The litigant public of Mettur town and its surrounding areas who had to approach the district court in Salem so far now have a similar facility at their doorsteps with the inauguration of the Additional District Court on Saturday. The Additional District Court, which has been designated as Fast Track Court, was inaugurated by Justice K.K. Sasidharan, judge, High Court of Madras.
Mr. Justice Shanmugam said that the State Government has accorded top priority in creating various facilities sought by the judiciary.
He said that the late Jayalalithaa ordered the opening of 223 new courts, of which 150 courts have already been set up. The Edappadi K. Palanisamy regime has allotted ₹ 659 crore in the last eight months for opening new courts and creating facilities. The Edappadi Government ordered opening of 195 courts, he added.
Mr. Justice Sasidharan said that the State Government had always responded positively for the suggestions made by the judiciary by way of opening new courts, creating facilities, and posting additional staff.
The Additional District Court in Mettur would help those from rural and backward areas. He called upon the judicial officers and the litigant public to solve disputes in the courts functioning in the district itself, instead of taking up the matter to the higher courts.
Mr. Justice Sasidharan said that the relevance of courts of late becoming very obvious. Citing an example, he said that the Madras High Court interfered and made JACTTO-GEO withdraw their protest. The court also managed to get the benefits for which the association launched the strike.
Justice R. Subramanian, judge, High Court of Madras, said that with the setting up of the Additional District Court, the lawyers have to be more responsible. The senior lawyers should train and guide the junior lawyers properly and inculcate in them the importance of the legal profession. “If the judicial system is to sustain itself, the support should come from within”, he said.
P. Mohan Raj, Principal District and Sessions Judge; Rohini R. Bhajibhakare, District Collector; P. Rajan, Superintendent of Police; K. Muthusamy, president, Mettur Bar Association; and others spoke.
