• In the current system, where almost 30 million cases are pending, it takes anywhere between 12 to 15 years for a judgment. As per the National Judicial Data Grid, released last month, on an average, 23,000 cases were registered daily in India, of which about 17,000 were criminal cases.
• Speedy justice is not only our fundamental right but also a prerequisite for maintaining the rule of law and delivering good governance. In its absence, the judicial system ends up serving the interests of the corrupt and the law-breakers.
• Trade, commerce, manufacturing, services, personal safety hinge on the effectiveness of the rule of law. Therefore, judicial reforms should be made the prime development agenda. Judiciary needs comprehensive reforms to deal with its ineffectiveness, and also to restore its waning credibility.

The reforms must include–

1. Making the judicial system accessible and effective for the poor,
2. Accountability of judges,
3. Transparency in court proceedings and appointments of judges,
4. Creation of a transparent, full-time independent judicial complaints commission to investigate complaints against judges,
5. Implementation of the RTI,
6. Setting up an All India Judicial Services,
7. Use of information technology tools for better court/ time management, and

Making the bar and the bench sensitive and accountable towards issues of social justice

Source: Indian Express