Karnataka High Court Chief Justice, Mr Justice Cyriac Joseph made it clear to advocates here recently, that all pending cases filed in Raichur district before 2000 should be disposed off before January 1, 2008.
He was speaking at the Raichur Bar Association at court complex here en route to inaugurate the newly constructed court building in Sindhanur. The number of cases filed before 2000 was around 50, he pointed out.
Today’s lawyers faced a threat to their existence as the pecuniary jurisdiction of junior division, senior division and district court had been increased. The amendment made to pecuniary jurisdiction would help legal community, he added.
He recalled that he was a lawyer before becoming a chief justice and still felt like a lawyer inside.
He urged advocates to give real justice to their clients and people. An advocate’s duty was to instill confidence about the judiciary.
In response to a question whether court proceedings and administration in judiciary should be carried out in Kannada, Joseph said that a circular was sent to all lower courts to give judgements in Kannada. In the High Court all proceeding could be in Kannada but judgements had to be in English as judicial officers found it very easy. Once judicial officer would become proficient in Kannada, all judgments even at the High Court would be in Kannada, he said.
Earlier, Joseph walked around the court complex and took stock of the building. In response to a memorandum submitted to him by the District Bar Association President N Bhanuraj, Joseph said that he had discussed with the district’s administrative judge and PWD engineer, and the present Consumer Forum complex would be demolished and a lawyers’ chamber and witness lounge would be constructed.
As soon as the proposal is submitted the work would start he added. High Court judge and administrative judge for Raichur district Justice B S Patil was present. Women’s Lawyers Association President Renukadevi Deshpande submitted a memorandum on the problems faced by women lawyers in the court to the Chief Justice.
