The Supreme Court on Tuesday set up a special Bench, called the Social Justice Bench, comprising two judges devoted to the delivery of speedy justice in a range of social issues related to the downtrodden and socially marginalised groups.
A brainchild of Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu, the Social Justice Bench will be headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur and also have Justice U.U. Lalit. The Bench would start functioning from December 12. The Bench will sit every Friday at 2 p.m.
Supreme Court Secretary-General V.S.R. Avadhani explained that the purpose behind constituting the new Bench was to streamline cases highlighting social issues before one court and thus facilitate the Supreme Court’s monitoring and review of the government’s action in such cases.
“In the Supreme Court, several cases relating to the domain of social justice have been pending for years. The Chief Justice of India is of the view that these cases shall be given a specialised approach for their early disposal so that masses will realise the fruits of the rights provided to them by the Constitutional text,” a statement issued by the apex court said.
The special Bench will handle issues related to the release of food grains lying in stock for use in drought-affected areas, framing of a fresh scheme for their public distribution, taking of steps to prevent the untimely death of women and children for want of nutritious food, hygienic mid-day meals in schools, clean drinking water, provision of “safety and secured living conditions for women forced into prostitution.”
