Judge rues over rise in number of witnesses turning hostile

Much awaited District Court Complex opens, finally

Administrative Judge of Dakshina Kannada district and Judge at High Court of Karnataka K Bhakthavatsala has said that with the witnesses turning hostile, the criminal justice administration system has been reduced to a farce. 

Speaking after inaugurating the newly constructed district court complex, at Mangalore on Saturday, he said that the witnesses should not turn hostile. If the witnesses turn hostile, then the entire system will be a failure. The number of peculiar crimes are on rise in the society. To check crime, the witness should cooperate with the police and help in bringing out the truth and punishing the criminals. If the accused go scot free, then where is the justice, he asked. 

Speedy disposal of cases, speedy trial and access to justice are the fundamental rights of citizens in the country. There are several cases which do not come to the court of law, owing to lack of knowledge and illiteracy.  

High Court Judge Justice S Abdul Nazeer said that delivering justice from docket explosion is a challenge before the judiciary. At the same time, without the cooperation of the advocates, we can not give justice. Hence, infrastructure facilities should be given to the advocates association in Mangalore. In North Karnataka, many suffer due to docket exclusion where people fail to come to the court seeking justice owing to illiteracy and lack of knowledge. 

District-in-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai said that there is lack of communal harmony in the district. “We need to introspect on happenings in the district. Those who support communal unrest should be punished. Those who are supposed to protect laws are engaged in violation. Rumour mongers are national enemies,” he said. 

Rai said that rumours lead to communal unrest in the society. There is a need to work towards peace and harmony in the society. Those who instigate hate and violence in the society will not get respect in the society. There is a need to take action against persons trying to disturb peace by flaring up religious issues and citizens should not support them. 

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader, MLA J R Lobo, MLC Monappa Bhandary, District and Sessions Judge B V Prakash, Karnataka State Bar Council Vice Chairman Ravindranath Rai, Bar Association President P Ashok Ariga and Chief Engineer A N Tyagaraj were present. DH News Service