This writer has always maintained that no country can progress (except from a 2 to 3 or max 4 on a scale of 10), indeed survive for long, without first having a true, honest, capable, and efficient justice system, where every citizen is treated with equal weight.
This writer had also critised as unfair, unjust, and unreasonable the BJP proposal to fast-track cases against MPs / politicians. What about the citizen who has to bear the grind for 10, 20, 50 years? What is so special about politicians? In any case, it is in the hands of the politicians themselves to fix the situation, NOT in congress-like ways, BUT in at least a genuine 40" chest way (56" not required).
This writer had suggest that as a first step, the retirement age of SC & HC judges should be increased to 70, thereby providing respite from the periodic vaccancies that crop up. The subordinate judges retirement should be 65. Simultaneously, retired judges (as reserves in a military campaign) should be recalled to man the posts, and senior lawyers should be required to act as judges for a period of maybe 3 years. Courts should have two sittings per day, say from 8 - 12, and 1 - 5 in order to overcome infrastructure shortages.
And the Hon'ble SC can play its role by ensuring that adjournments are curtailed, all courts are audio-video, there is random evaluation of judgments by judges, an effective, swift, and certain removal of corrupt judges is put in place.
And the government must reduce its mindless litigation against the citizen. All pending petty cases with punishment of, say, 6 months or less are dismissed / withdrawn.
A good judicial system is a victory of the nation, a bad one will sink the nation sooner or later.
Victor
