Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu have called for a harmonious functioning of judiciary, legislature and executive, the three pillars of democracy, which formed the foundation for a civilised society.
The two Chief Ministers stressed the need for conduct of conferences and conventions on the three pillars on a regular basis as such events would help in reviewing their performance and improving their efficiency. They also underscored the need for the legal machinery taking recourse to technology as it would go a long way in speedy delivery of justice.
Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao and Mr. Naidu participated in the inaugural of the State-Level Judicial Officers’ Conference that got under way here on Saturday. The meeting was attended by Supreme Court judges A.R. Dave, N.V. Ramana and Deepak Mishra in addition to Gujarat High Court Chief Justice R. Subash Reddy.
Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao complimented the acting Chief Justice of the Hyderabad High Court Dilip B. Bhosale for ensuring that the delivery of justice was made 35 per cent faster in the last one year. He said there was, however, a large pendency in spite of the steps launched by the judiciary. Close to five lakh cases were still pending in the lower courts, while the number was 2.72 lakh when it came to the combined High Court of the two States. He wanted the conference to focus on resolving the pending cases expeditiously.
Uphill task for new State
Mr. Naidu explained how the new State was facing an uphill task of streamlining the administration. In the process of transformation, the equilibrium of governance was often fluctuating and at times, causing legal friction between individual interests and larger public good. It was in this scenario that the courts were confronted with complaints of violation of rules, rule book and infringement of personal legal rights. “Strict construing of rule position in a given case may at times defeat the larger public good,” he said.
The AP Chief Minister explained the participants about the government’s efforts to construct a world class High Court at the new capital Amaravati with suitable accommodation to judges with all amenities. The State was also committed to work for improvement of amenities for lower courts and was, in fact, setting up a fibre grid which could be utilised by the judiciary.
Justice N.V. Ramana complimented the two States for ushering in development through vision.
