Justice T S Thakur, who took over as the 43rd Chief Justice of India, has set a clear roadmap for his 13-month tenure in the Apex Court. While speaking at the farewell of CJI HL Dattu on December 2, he listed cutting down pendency of cases across the courts in India as high among his priorities.
On the roadmap to clear pendency.
The year 2016 will see clearing of pendency of cases in the SC. This is my biggest and foremost challenge. We can become superpower only when judiciary is suitably empowered. We can achieve the task with cooperation of all people associated with administration of justice.
On the appointments in the higher judiciary.
People feel that the judiciary has kept the power to appoint judges upon itself; let us show that we can also live up to the expectations. My biggest task is to fill up 400 vacancies in various high courts and I take it as an important challenge.
On elevation of lawyers as judges.
It is a great idea which needed to be pushed. I assure that whenever we find a lawyer, who is efficient and is of impeccable character, we will consider his elevation.
On judges accepting post-retirement jobs.
I feel that judges are a valuable human resource and it will be a loss to let the resource go waste after they retire, so judges can opt for post-retirement jobs.
On improving infrastructure for judiciary.
Infrastructure in the Supreme Court and in other courts is deficient and I have seen a lot of people working in cellars. It will be my priority to improve it.
On improving legal education standards.
I will cooperate with the Bar Council of India in improving the quality of legal education in the country. 60,000 law students graduate per year in India of which only 20,000 are from premier institutes.