Over 2.5 lakh cases pending in Punjab and Haryana High Court

Phillaur, Dec 22 (UNI) Over 2.5 lakh cases are pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and 16 posts out of total strength of 68 judges are still lying vacant, Chief Justice Vijender Jain said here today.

While talking with media persons at Punjab Police Academy, Justice Jain said to clear the pendency of cases, judges have been instructed to clear by December 31 all the cases which were more than ten years old.

The cases lying pending for more than five years will have to be cleared within two years, he added.

He said that a state-level Conclave would be organised at Chandigarh on January 19 to find out ways and means to meet with long pendency of cases. All the district session judges, district attornies, forensic experts would participate in this second state level conclave.

He said that earlier the state-level conclave was held in Haryana on February 9, 2007.

The chief justice admitted that conviction rate was low due to several deficiencies in the system and the improvement in the system was the need of the hour.

The chief justice said that New Judicial Complexes were being constructed and provided at 12 places in Punjab and four in Haryana.

He advocated the introduction of more Mobile Courts.

When his attention was drawn towards opposition of the introduction of mobile courts by some sections, the chief justice said, "Every good thing has to face criticism and opposition first".

UNI