MADURAI: Observing that the petitioner cannot expect early disposal of his case alone, as the courts are bound to hear cases filed by other litigants as well, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court slapped a fine of `10,000 on a petitioner P Sankaran, who appeared as a party in person, for criticising the justice delivery system.
Though the court allowed the petition, Justice N Kirubakaran imposed a fine and directed the petitioner to pay it to the Chief Justice’s Relief fund within two weeks and produce the receipt copy before the Thoothukudi Tahsildar. The case between one Somanathan and the petitioner regarding the ownership of a property has a history of four decades. The case was dragged twice before the Supreme Court and thrice before the High Court.
“Merely because he was appearing in person and succeeded before the Supreme Court, it does not mean that he could make uncharitable remarks about the justice delivery system”, the judge observed. Pointing out the fact that the petitioner has won a civil appeal in the Supreme Court with a cost of `1,000, the judge said that it proved the efficiency of the justice delivery system in the country.
Justice Kirubakaran pointed out that the proceedings usually reach the High Court after the trial court and the appellate court pass orders. Therefore, definitely the proceedings would take time to attain finality.
“This court has to deprecate this kind of attitude by the litigant. If such trend is allowed to continue, it will definitely paint a bad picture about the justice delivery system in the minds of the people”, said Justice Kirubakaran.