Judiciary should have inbuilt self-assessment system: PM

The judiciary should evolve its own in-built system for self-assessment so that it can live up to its “divine role” of ensuring the rule of law, and delivering justice to the common man, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Sunday.

Addressing Chief Justices of States and Chief Justices of High Court, Modi said the judiciary should be both “sashakt” and “samarth” (empowered and capable), as it normally does not face any scrutiny, unlike the executive, which is under “constant assessment and scrutiny in public life, through various institutions”.

Lok Adalats He said Lok Adalats were an effective way of dispensing justice for the common man, and this mechanism should be strengthened. Similarly, he stressed the importance of ‘family courts’.

The Prime Minister also called for a comprehensive review of the system of government-appointed tribunals, to assess their efficacy and effectiveness.

‘Herculean task’ Under the Digital India programme, technology should be deployed to bring about a qualitative change in the judiciary, he said, adding that there was need for quality manpower for the judiciary.

The Union Minister of Law and Justice DV Sadananda Gowda said ensuring justice to a population of over 1.2 billion people was a Herculean task.

Pointing out at three crore pending cases, the Minister said, “This makes it all the more important for State Governments and High Courts to work jointly towards the effective administration of justice.”

Gowda called upon the Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts to recruit more judges and staff and provide manpower.

Arbitration The Minister said the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 will soon be amended to make the arbitration process more investor-friendly, cost-effective and suitable for expeditious disposal of cases.

“Our goal is to make India a hub of international commercial arbitration,” he said adding that he had written to all High Courts and State Governments seeking their their views in this regard.

‘Equal partners’ In his presidential address, Chief Justice of India, HL Dattu issues concerning the administration of justice are complex and cannot be addressed by the judiciary alone.

Referring to the judiciary and Parliament as siblings — the children of democracy — Dattu said, “The executive has just as much at stake and the judiciary must work with the executive as equal partners.”

He said there was need to encourage arbitration, mediation and conciliation as genuine modes of dispensation of justice.