Although Indian Judiciary has been globally acknowledged as being independent and most powerful, delay in dispensation of justice and corruption have tarnished the image of the Judiciary of the world’s largest democracy, opined Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph.

“If the twin maladies are not tackled effectively, it may lead to loss of faith in the Judiciary, besides losing its credibility,’’ Justice Joseph warned.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Permanent Lok Adalat and laying foundation stones for Lawyers Chambers and Witness Lounge at the district court complex here on Saturday.

Justice Joseph said, “I cannot claim that the Judiciary is free from corruption. It may be the institution with lowest corruption. However, negligible the corruption is, it tends to tarnish the image of the Judicial system.

Coupled with corruption, is the ‘delay’ aspect. Both, if not checked effectively, will erode people’s faith in the Judiciary,’’ Justice Joseph explained.

Stating that corruption has come to stay in all the institutions including the Judiciary managed by human beings, he said, corruption in any form should not be tolerated in the Judiciary, as it was the principal organ of rendering justice to the people.

Better than others
Referring to the delay in the administration of justice, the Chief Justice said, the situation in the State with regard to pendency of cases was far better than other states.

To minimise the delay, a number of steps were being initiated. With minimising adjournments and bringing about plea bargaining system, the situation may further improve.

Another important institutional measure taken up was, establishing permanent Lok Adalats.

He said, Lok Adalat has become a very effective alternate dispute redressal mechanism.

Circuit Bench
Justice Joseph said, the Judges Committee constituted to go into the issue of the early functioning of the High Court Circuit Bench in a temporary building, till the permanent building was constructed, was likely to submit its report in three-four days.

After going through the report and after discussing it with his colleagues, he would soon take a decision on this.
Justice N K Patil and Justice V Gopala Gowda of the High Court also spoke.