Former CJI calls for speedy disposal of cases

Former chief justice of India M N Venkatachalaiah on Saturday, said that disposal of cases in courts should be speeded up.

He was addressing the Law students, during the inaugural ceremony of the 16th Surana and Surana national Corporate Law Moot Competition, organised at JSS Law College, here.

Venkatachalaiah said that approximately 34 million cases are pending before different courts across the country. "In the Supreme Court, out of 60,000 cases, 70% are criminal and 30% are civil issues. Similarly, 80% of civil and 20% criminal cases are pending before the High Courts," he said.

According to him, the country suffers a loss of 1.5 lakh crore manpower and productivity hours every year. He said, nearly 50 cases will be heard in a court, a day.

Highlighting about the National Judicial Academy, he said that the institute is top in the world, but, its facilities are under utilised.

Recalling his experience as a judge, Venkatachalaiah said, without experience in trial courts, the legal profession is nothing. "Moot competitions are stepping stones for the profession. But, the real life is in a trial court and the experience is extraordinary," he said.

Legal expert C K N Raja, JSS Mahavidyapeetha executive secretary C G Betsurmutt, JSS Law College chief executive K S Suresh and principal M M Prabhuswamy were present.