While factors such as fewer judges and lack of infrastructure hinder speedy disposal of cases adding to pendency, hurried justice is equally bad, Justice S.S. Sundar, Judge, Madras High Court (additional portfolio judge, Coimbatore district) said here on Saturday.
Mr. Sundar was addressing judicial and law fraternity after inaugurating Additional Labour Court at combined court complex in Coimbatore. He said that judges-population ratio in India is poor compared to many other countries.
“The ratio was 10 judges for one million population when it was officially taken in 1987. The 120th Law Commission said that it should be 50 for one million population. Today, the ratio has reduced to 7.8,” Mr. Sundar said. He pointed that efficiency of judges and co-operation of advocates are very important in speedy disposal of cases.
Stressing that compassion and wisdom are expected more from judges along with other qualities such as integrity, impartiality and fairness, he also urged judges and advocates to understand the problem of the people and give relief to poor and needy.
District Collector T.N. Hariharan said that Coimbatore has seen an upsurge in the number of labour disputes with the presence of a large workforce. Around 2,400 labour disputes are pending in Coimbatore and functioning of an additional court would ease their disposals. Principal District and Sessions Judge R. Pongiappan, Chief Judicial Magistrate, K.R. Mathurasekaran and representatives of various advocates association spoke at the event. A. Mani Mozhi has taken charge as presiding officer at the newly inaugurated Additional Labour court.
