‘With 5 new courts on cards, pending cases to come down’

September 22, 2014 09:37 am | Updated 09:37 am IST - PUDUCHERRY:

A view of Puducherry District Court complex.

A view of Puducherry District Court complex.

Over 26,300 cases are pending in all courts of Union Territory of Puducherry, according to Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar, senior Judge of the Madras High Court, who is also holding the portfolio of Puducherry Judiciary.

“The pendency of cases in the High Court arising from the Union Territory of Puducherry is not alarming and only 3,914 main cases are pending as on September 9 awaiting disposal. Similarly as on date, total pendency of cases in all courts in the Union Territory of Puducherry is about 26,300 of which, 538 cases are 10- year-old and 3,558 are old between five to ten years,” said Mr. Justice Vasanthakumar, who was in the city recently.

The Judge expressed the hope that the long pending cases would be disposed of soon once five newly sanctioned courts became functional.

The judiciary has been flagging some of its pressing needs, especially better infrastructure and more staff.

“Sanctioning of sufficient staff for functioning of five courts- two each in Puducherry and Karaikal and one in Mahe — is awaited for a long time. The annex building is ready and I hope that other amenities will be made available within a month,” said Mr. Justice Vasanthakumar.

He also requested the Chief Minister N. Rangasamy to pay immediate attention to all pending matters and extend cooperation to the judiciary for speedy disposal of cases.

Mr. Justice Vasanthakumar, who launched a toll-free helpline for Union Territory of Puducherry Legal Services Authority (UTPLSA) recently, is of the view that legal service as defined Section 2(1)(c) of the Legal Services Act, 1987 includes giving advice on any legal matter.

It is for this very purpose, he says, that Village Legal Care and Support Centres are being established.

The Puducherry Legal Services Authority has so far established 55 Village Legal Care and Support Centres in all four regions of the Union Territory, out of 500 villages.

Pointing to decisions of the National Legal Services Authority meeting held last July, he said Para Legal Volunteers should focus on implementing the objectives at the village level.

The toll-free helpline is being seen as an important step in promoting awareness about and access to legal assistance.

Lok Adalats

The UTPLSA has also been organising legal awareness camps on child labour, contract labourer and transgender issues.

Since 2003, Puducherry Legal Services Authority conducted 1,114 legal awareness camps, in which 2.36 lakh persons have benefited. In the year 2014 alone so far 50 such camps were conducted and 6,030 persons have benefited. Besides, 1,286 Lok Adalats were conducted, in which 36,403 cases were settled.

Up to August this year, 65 Lok Adalats have been held in which about 6,700 cases were settled, bringing down the overall pendency.

According to Principal Sessions Judge P. Velmurugan, a circular has been issued to judicial officers to dispose long pending cases expeditiously.

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