PUDUCHERRY: Madras High Court judge P.D. Dinakaran said that in order for people to gain confidence in the legal system there was a need for the judiciary and the bar to do some self-introspection on the achievements made and the problems faced.

Speaking at the Law Day function organised by the Puducherry Bar Association here on Sunday, Mr. Dinakaran said it was true that there were shortcomings in the justice delivery system, but at the same time the achievements made should not be forgotten.

He said that the confidence of the people in the legal system and the justice delivery system was an essential prerequisite for the survival of democracy in the country. The theme of Law Day should be to make sure that democracy prevails, and that power is not aggregated in one person.

In his address, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy announced that the Government would increase the contribution to the Advocates' Welfare Fund from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.10 lakh. He also said that the construction of buildings for a legal aid centre and criminal courts in Puducherry and a court complex in Karaikal would begin soon.

Construction of a civil court building in Puducherry was almost over, he added.

Mr. Rangasamy also distributed prizes to advocates who had won prizes in various sporting events, and felicitated advocates who had served for more than 25 years.

He rejoiced at seeing many of his classmates (he has done his B.L.), and said that if he had not entered politics and become the Chief Minister he too would have received a shawl and a scroll on the occasion.

Senior advocate C.P. Thirunavukarasu donated Rs.1 lakh towards the bar association library. M. Chinnapandi, Chief Judge, Puducherry; C.T. Ramesh, Association President; John Claude Pompei Mariadassou, Law Secretary; and S.S. Pajaniradja, association Secretary; spoke on the occasion.

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