Over 3 cr cases pending in various courts: CJI

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, May 8:

Steps are being taken with regard to the vacancies of judges in various courts across the country, said Chief Justice of India TS Thakur during the opening day of the centennial celebration of the Orissa High Court here today.

“The confidence of people on the judiciary has, over the years, multiplied. Over 3 crore cases are pending in various courts across the country. Measures are being initiated to fill the vacant judges’ posts. The appointment of judges will help in the speedy delivery of justice,” Chief Justice of India TS Thakur said.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Supreme Court Judge Justice Dipak Mishra, Orissa High Court Chief Justice Vineet Saran, retired judges of High Court and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

“Hundred years back, in May 1916, when the Circuit Court of Patna High Court for Odisha held its first sitting at Cuttack, history was made. Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das was there to express hope that this would lead to the establishment of a separate High Court for Odisha one day. As you all know, Madhu Babu was then spearheading the movement for the formation of a separate province of Odisha. And we all are happy that all his dreams were fulfilled. Odisha became a separate province twenty years later in 1936 and the permanent High Court for Odisha was established in 1948. What great men envision, of course comes true,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.

Further, Patnaik said: “The state government is continuously providing adequate infrastructure support to this institution. We are committed to the overall strengthening and development of the justice delivery system. The government has rendered all assistance and financial support for infrastructural development of the courts in the state. We have established 30 first class judicial magistrate courts for ensuring speedy trial of offences against women in the State. Another 26 first class additional courts of judicial magistrate have been set up in remote and topographically challenging areas of the State. Odisha has established rural courts to cater to the rural population. A modern court complex of the Orissa High Court has been constructed and an impressive Odisha Judicial Academy has been set up for the capacity building of Judicial Officers.”

According to an estimate, around 70, 000 judges are required considering the current population for speedy disposal of cases. On the contrary, there are around 18, 000 judges in the country.

Today was the inaugural day of the 12-day long centennial celebration. The Chief Justices of various courts and judges are slated to address during the ceremony.