CJI To Bar - Help Sort Out Cases In Shortest Time

New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) India's million or so lawyers have been urged by newly appointed Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan to help sort out cases in the shortest possible time.

Indian courts have close to 30 million cases pending-- many for decades-- blamed on such factors as too many adjournments, shortage of judges and never-ending vacancies.

Felicitated by the Bar Council of India, a statutory body of Indian advocates, at its headquarters in New Delhi last evening, the Chief Justice stressed ''very important'' responsibilities Indian lawyers carry.

Asked afterward, BCI Chairman Jaganath Patnaik said, ''we respect the wishes of the Chief Justice of India and will do whatever we are required to do for effective administration of justice.'' Justice Balakrishnan, who took office this week, reminded the Bar of the faith citizens repose in lawyers by confiding in them facts of their personal lives, property, matrimony and other interests.

The Indian Bar, which is supposed to be regulated by the BCI, is believed by critics to face serious issues in the area of ethics.

Justice Balakrishnan emphasised improving the standards of legal education, which the BCI is empowered to effect.

He noted that the number of lawyers in India will probably cross that in the United States in a couple of years.

Justice Balakishnan cited new opportunities for young lawyers in corporate and other sectors, especially since the onset of globalisation. ''A new world's opened up,'' he pointed out.

He acknowledged such problems as a dearth of law faculty but suggested that the BCI should use more push to help improve the education facilities to produce top quality graduates.

Bar officials say that although the BCI is empowered by law, it is not adequately funded by the government to carry out such tasks, and has been relying on its own resources.

Welcoming the new Chief Justice, Patnaik and Vice-Chairman Rajendra Raghuvanshi cited such concerns as legal education and instituting a stipend for junior lawyers.

The Karnataka government is reported to have set up a Re 1,000 stipend for junior lawyers. The BCI has suggested introducing a similar stipend across the nation.

A BCI official estimated the number of junior lawyers at about 200,000.

Asked by journalists, Justice Balakrishnan declined to comment on a controversy over two Gujarat High Court Judges involved in a scuffle.

UNI