The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : `Adopt humane approach in administration of justice'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 12, 2004

Other States

Other States - Pondicherry

`Adopt humane approach in administration of justice'

By Our Staff Reporter

Former Judge of Madras High Court and president of Comparative Law Society in Pondicherry, David Annousamy addressing a function organized to mark the bicentenary celebration of the French Civil Code in Pondicherry on Saturday. The Madras High court judge, Justice M. Karpagavinayagam (second from right ) looks on. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

PONDICHERRY, DEC. 11. Judge of the Madras High court and Executive Chairman of Pondicherry State Legal Services Authority Justice M. Karpagavinayagam has said that humane approach should form the basis of administration of justice and the punishment awarded to the accused should be such that it should only help the individual emerge as a totally reformed person.

Addressing a meeting organised by the Comparative Law Society and Pondicherry State Legal Services Authority here today to mark the celebration of the bi centenary of `French Civil Code` (called Code Civil des Francais), he said that good legal features could be drawn from any source.

The law framed for administration of justice in a society should reflect the ground realities. The punishment awarded should have twin objectives of making the punished person reform himself so that there would be no propensity or attitude to further commit offences later.

Before applying the provisions of law there should be understanding of the concept of the law and hence mere literal understanding of the legal provisions would not be enough.

Napoleon, the architect

Former Judge of Madras High Court and president of the Comparative Law Society, David Annousamy, said that Napoleon was the architect of the French Civil Code. Its purpose was among others to bring about uniformity in law. The substance of the code was rich because it was a harmonious combination of elements of customs, the Roman law, the Canon Law and the revolutionary ideas of `Liberaty and Equality`.

The French Civil Code was extended to Pondicherry in 1819 when Pondicherry was then under French regime. The code brought about substantial modification in the society in the then French system here.

The corresponding Anglo Indian laws laws had now replaced the bulk of the code here.

The French Consul General in Pondicherry, Michel Seguy, the former French Ambassador to India Andre Lewin and the Chief Judge of Pondicherry M. Chinnapandy were among those spoke.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Arivoli Iyakkam to be relaunched in Pondicherry

`Adopt humane approach in administration of justice'

Temple cars to be renovated