Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

“Court boycott is an injustice to litigants”

— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN.

BETTER FACILITIES: The Madras High Court Chief Justice A.K. Ganguly, third from left, inaugurating a sub court at Periyakulam on Monday.

THENI: “Boycott is not an option to settle grievances of lawyers. Protest should be in a dignified way. Then only people will respect. Kindly change your view,” said Justice A.K. Ganguly, Chief Justice, The Madras High Court.

He was inaugurating a sub-court, legal aid cell and advocates law chamber in combined court complex at Periakulam near here on Monday.

Choking functioning of courts would amount to great injustice done to litigants. Boycott would mount arrears in courts. Lawyers are doing injustice to their profession by such an act. It would reveal their narrow minded approach for some little advantages, he deplored.

“You should not demand. You should command. Try to solve problems through dialogue.” Will we chop our head for mere a head ache?, he asked.

Justice Ganguly strictly advised police officials to treat lawyers with utmost dignity. Court’s responsibility is growing, so also work pressure. Court is meant for people.“We are only facilitators. Litigants are main players. Justice should not be denied.”

In his address, High Court Judge D. Murugesan said Theni court complex has facilities more than its requirements when compared to number of cases and strength of advocates. “Keep it in mind that we are not masters of litigants. We are all servants of the public. Approach litigants with a compassion,” he advised.

Thirty per cent of court working days was boycotted. Nine out of 10 files received by me were on court boycott only. Calculate salary and other expenses. Are we justified to it, he asked.

High Court Judge K. Suguna advised lawyers to update their knowledge. Lawyers in the district boycotted court for three months. She appealed to advocates to settle their disputes through dialogue.

High Court Judge V. Periakuruppiah said new facilities created in Theni combined court complex were not even available in big districts like Madurai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli.

“Lawyers have onerous responsibility. If we do our duty perfectly and promptly without deviation, we will render justice in record time, he added. Collector S.J. Chiru said that creation of such infrastructure in rural area was to take justice to grass roots.

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