The Hindu : Front Page : Meet new challenges, CJI tells judiciary

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Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
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Meet new challenges, CJI tells judiciary

Special Correspondent

Says public should have confidence in rule of law
Calls for scientific analysis on pendency of cases

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan on Saturday called upon the judiciary to be fully prepared to meet the challenges posed by globalisation and rapid technological developments.

Delivering the 16th Sree Chithira Tirunal Memorial Lecture on “Good Governance – Judiciary and the Rule of Law” here, the Chief Justice said the judiciary could not afford to lag behind when globalisation and rapid technological developments were affecting all economies and presenting new challenges and opportunities.

He said that the public should have confidence in the rule of law and governance. “Public confidence can come about when the judiciary applies the law in accordance with the interests of the people and the constitution and in a timely manner,” Mr. Balakrishnan said.

Justice Balakrishnan wanted a rationale and a scientific analysis of the factors behind pendency of cases.

A specific plan should be decided to bring pending cases to acceptable limits and further to zero pendancy.

There were numerous reports by Law Commissions. The need of the hour was to act on these recommendations, he said in the lecture organised by the Sree Chithira Tirunal Smaraka Samithy.

He said the three arms of governance – the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary – were equal shareholders in protecting and implementing the rule of law.

The judiciary was endowed with the additional responsibility of safeguarding the rule of law whenever the other limbs failed to perform their functions according to the spirit of the Constitution.

He said the Supreme Court, through its interventions in environmental issues, had adopted substantive equality. It resulted in greater judicial activism and opened new vistas for judicial intervention and creativity.

Justice Balakrishnan also emphasised the importance of education, the only way to empower socially disadvantages sections and social groups.

Nagaland and Arnuachal Pradesh Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, who presided over the function, said Sree Chithira Tirunal was a socialist among Maharajas.

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