“Increasing attacks on judges is an area of grave concern”- Chief Justice of India at Constitution Day Celebration

The Chief Justice of India N.V.Raman has said that the increasing attack on judges is an area of grave concern for judiciary, while addressing the Constitution Day celebration today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chief Guest and Law Minister Kiren Rijiju is the Guest of Honour at the celebration.

Addressing the gathering, the CJI said, “Physical attacks on judicial officers are on the rise. Then there are attacks on the judiciary in the media, particularly social media. These attacks appear to be sponsored and synchronised.”

He urged the law enforcing agencies, more particularly the Central agencies, to deal with such malicious attacks effectively. He further said that the Governments are expected to create a secure environment so that the judges and judicial officers can function fearlessly.

Speaking of judicial reforms, the CJI said, “My experience as a legal professional in different roles is what prompted me to call for “Indianisation of the Judiciary”. I am using the term “Indianisation” to refer to a wide range of reforms that our judicial system requires.”

The CJI said that the judicial system, in our country today, is essentially still of a colonial nature and it does not take account of the social realities or the local conditions. The CJI emphasised on the fact that the procedures followed, the language of arguments and judgments and the costs involved in litigation are contributing factors that alienate the common man from the judicial system.

He said, “People should feel confident in approaching the Courts. Only when litigants get a chance to directly participate, their faith in the process and outcome will be reinforced.”

The CJI brought to the notice of the audience that there is a pressing need to simplify the entire process- by removing avoidable procedural barriers and ensuring greater use of the local language.

On filling up vacancies in the judiciary, the CJI said “recently, we have witnessed many appointments in the higher judiciary being cleared by the Government. It is very heartening to note that the number of vacancies in the Apex Court is reduced to just one.”

Speaking of women judges, the CJI mentioned that there are now four women Judges in the Supreme Court for the first time and he  hopes to see this number grow further. The CJI while speaking of the court’s plan of action to fill up the vacancies in the High Court said that his Brother judges in the Collegia worked overtime to facilitate filling up of vacancies across the High Courts as well and that this is an ongoing exercise. He expressed hope and assurance that the vacancies will be reduced to the bare minimum soon. He also mentioned that he looked forward to the continued cooperation of the Government I this aspect.

The CJI thanked the Prime Minister for lending his support to the legal awareness mission which was led by NALSA under the dynamic leadership Justice U.U. Lalit. He further thanked the Prime Minister for taking out time for this event today. He mentioned that within a span of two weeks, the Prime Minister graciously came forward to host the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts from across the country twice.

On the law minister Kiren Rijiju he said “Having a Law Minister who understands the functioning of the Constitutional system is highly appreciated. His cooperation with the legal fraternity and the judiciary is invaluable.”

While concluding his address he quoted the Telugu poet Gurajada Appa Rao who said: “Deshamante matti kaadoy, deshamante manushuloy”. Which means, ‘A country is not defined by territorial boundaries. A country is defined by its people’.

Before finishing his address the CJI said “On this day, I do not think there is any more patriotic act for the judiciary, than re-dedicating itself to uphold the Constitution in the interest of ‘WE, THE PEOPLE’.”