New ideas wanted for speedy justice: CJI

Bangalore, June 21 (UNI) The Chief Justice of India, Mr Justice K G Balakrishnan, today called for exploration of new ideas and methods for speedy justice as the present infrastructure available with the judiciary was no longer enough to clear large number of pendency of cases in various courts.

Delivering the keynote address after inaugurating Bangalore Mediation Centre, Nyaya Degula, here today, Mr Justice Balakrishnan informed that over 2.5 crore cases were pending in subordinate courts, 58 lakh in various High Courts and another 31,000 in the Apex Court itself.

Opinioning no serious amendment to the procedural laws can be brought to speeden up the justice delivery system, the Chief Justice said new ideas and methods can be adopted in clearing large number of pending cases, including strengthening the Lok Adalats and Mediation Centres.

The government was willing to come out with new ideas to start new courts to deal with the huge backlog but it was again time consuming and exhorted the litigant public to utilise the Alternate Dispute Resolution Centres in the best possible way.

''Everyday I receive petitions from litigant public seeking to find ways to deliver justice in speedy way'' he said and expressed confidence the mediation centres would give the much needed relief to the litigants waiting for long time to get justice.

Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice Suraj Bhan, who also spoke on the occasion said courts alone cannot be blamed for the backlog.

The country required about six times more the current number of judges and infrastructure than the present to clear the pending cases.

''Mediation centres can play a crucial role in not only solving the cases but also bringing together the litigate public. It will not only solve the problem but also save valuable time, energy and resources'' he said.

Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph, Supreme Court Judge Justice R V Raveendran, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy were among those present.

UNI