JOIN USChief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday coined his own phrase on the after-effects of the delay in disposal of cases at law courts --- ‘Justice denied is justice buried’.
Addressing the gathering at Senate Bhavan, Manasagangotri, after inaugurating the ground and first floor of the new law court’s complex at Malalavadi here, Siddaramaiah, who had dabbled in the field of judiciary as an advocate in the early 1970s in Mysuru before taking a plunge into politics said, “There is a saying in Kannada, ‘Geddavanu Sotha, Sothavanu saththa’ (One who wins loses and one who loses is dead). Going a step further, it can be said, justice denied is justice buried”.
Pointing at the inordinate delay in disposal of cases, the chief minister blamed a section of the advocates for it. “Such enormous delays can be seen in civil suits, where interlocutory applications (IA) are filed only to prolong the case. For generations, the case remains to be solved with the litigants inheriting it”, Siddaramaiah said.
He was quick to add that there are advocates and judges who make sincere efforts for speedy disposal of cases. The legal fraternity has to ensure that weaker sections are not deprived of justice and the needy are delivered justice, he stated.
Stating that the government is committed to create required facilities for the judiciary, Siddaramaiah said Rs 2,000 crore is being spent on various works in the State, with Rs 100 crore being spent on 33 works in Mysuru district alone. He promised to hike the stipend given to junior advocates, who are presently being paid Rs 2,000 per month.
Fees then, now
Expressing concern over advocates commanding exorbitant fees, Siddaramaiah recalled, in earlier days, a vegetable or butter was sufficient to convince advocates to take up cases. The advocates also did not have any qualms over that. Now, there are advocates who charge fees in the range of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. The poor cannot afford it. At this juncture, it would be better to opt for out of the court settlement, he felt.