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“Court decisions must not shock collective conscience of community”

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

CALL FOR STRONG JUDICIARY: Madras High Court Judges D. Murugesan (left) and Prabha Sridevan with Chief Minister N. Rangasamy at a Workshop in Puducherry on Sunday.

PUDUCHERRY: Judge of the Madras High Court D.Murugesan said on Sunday that the decisions of the courts must not shock the collective conscience of the community.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the three-day workshop on ‘Techniques and Tools for Enhancing Timely Justice’ jointly held by the High Court and the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy (TNSJA), he said the courts were required to have a change in their outlook and attitude in the administration of justice.

They should also exhibit more sensitivity and adopt a realistic, rather than a narrow technical approach, particularly to the grievances of socially and economically backward people, he added.

“It is needless to mention that the approach must be within the parameters of law. This is more so in criminal justice which deals with complex human problems and diverse human beings,” he said.

Justice Mr.Murugesan stressed the need for training the judicial officers in these fields to ensure a “strong, competent, reliable, trustworthy and omnipotent judicial system.”

For effective administration of justice, a strong and vibrant subordinate judiciary was needed, he said. In facing the challenges before the justice system in the country, the judiciary required both judicial and legal education. Judicial education would enhance the timely delivery of justice as it improved the quality of judicial performance and contributed to the systematic development of judicial institutions and policies, he added.

Chief Minister N.Rangasamy, who presided, said people had been yearning for timely delivery of justice, as there had been misconceptions that there was no scope for early solution to disputes if they were taken to courts.

He also stressed the need for pronouncement of judgements on the scheduled dates and failing to do so paved the way for unnecessary doubts, particularly in criminal justice. Though adjournment of cases was considered to be the professional dharma, delivering timely justice was in the hands of the judicial officers, he said. Conducting such workshops and training programmes would enable senior judicial officers and legal experts to share their experience with juniors, Mr.Rangasamy pointed out.

During the three-day workshop held for judicial officers from Puducherry, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, 24 resource persons including 12 sitting judges participated in a total of 10 sessions, TNSJA sources said.

Director of TNSJA S.Vimala and Chief Judge of Puducherry D.Krishnaraja spoke at the meeting.

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