Reduce pendency of cases: SC judge

A Supreme Court judge has expressed concern over high pendency of cases and said it results in loss of public confidence in the judiciary.

Delivering a lecture on the ‘Role of Advocates in Justice Delivery System’ to mark the 150th celebration of the High Court, Supreme Court judge Justice P Sadasivam highlighted the need to reduce pendency of cases as it would result in people turning lawless and resorting to violent crimes to get justice.

He stressed on the advantages of alternative means of dispute redressal even if a case is pending in a court of law.

“Disputes can be resolved more economically and speedily. This system effectively reduces the workload of the court and provides a flexible procedure. Strict procedure of law is not applicable to alternative means of dispute redressal,” he said.

Sadasivam said that cases under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, The Consumer Protection Act 1986 and The Contract Act 1872, besides cases involving family law, insurance, compensation and labour disputes can be brought under the aegis of the dispute redressal mechanism.

Stressing the importance of Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Code, he said it is a provision to initiate conciliation and give an opportunity to the government to settle the matter amicably prior to institution of a suit in the court.

In India environmental jurisprudence has a long way to go in acquiring a seminal importance, leaving behind the engraved British juristic notions as outdated and insufficient. “The damage caused to the environment by poisonous gases and emissions, have acquired alarming proportions, which cry for new environmental ethic, order and justice in India,” he added.

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