Indian judicial system is independent: Chief Justice Jain

Amritsar, Mar 21 (UNI) Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Vijender Jain today maintained that the Indian Judicial System was the most independent and fair system in the world, devoid of political interference.

Talking to mediapersons after awarding degrees to student on the 102nd Annual Convocation of Khalsa College here, Justice Jain said that the Judicial System was the strongest pillar of the countrys democracy.

The political parties in Punjab are not interfering and can not interfere with the working of the Judiciary, he said. He clarified that each person or party is free to file any case at any point of time but the judiciary gives the decisions solely on basis of witnesses and evidences.

On the pendency of court cases in Punjab, Justice Jain said that nearly 6 lakh cases are pending in various courts of Punjab and there are 280 Judicial Officers to cater to these case. The Supreme Court is fully abrest of the situation and to deliver speedy and cost effective justice, the Apex Court has issued directions for initiating a permanent recruitment policy for Judicial Officers, he said.

Elaborating, the Chief Justice said that as per this policy new judicial posts and supporting infrastructure is to be provided by the State Governments. Lauding the role of the Punjab Government, Justice Jain said that it has given Rs 35 crore for recruitment and infrastructure improvement and another Rs 10 crore has been provided by the Central Government.

In Punjab, 37 Judicial Officers were recruited last year and 49 more have been recruited in the current month. These officials are under going training at the Judicial Academy and as and when they are absorbed in the mechanism the results will be seen and felt by all, he added.

The Chief Justice said that he has directed all the courts of Punjab and Haryana to settle the criminal cases pending since the past ten years or more within a year and all the criminal cases pending for five years are to be settled in the coming two years. He informed that Haryana has already cleared the pendency of 10 year old criminal cases and hopefully Punjab would also clear the backlog by August this year.

Earlier, Justice Jain conferred degrees upon 392 students of Post Graduate and Professional Degree Classes.

Delivering the convocation address, Justice Jain advised the students to receive their degrees with a sense of pride but use these as a stepping stone for further achievements. He lauded the role of Khalsa College in imparting education.

UNI HS BK1836