Pointing out an aberration in the functioning of the judicial body in Puducherry resulting in the Bench and the Bar not acting together, acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Justice Satish K Agnihotri, on Sunday stressed on the need for co-ordination between the two wings as they were the two sides of the same coin.
Delivering the inaugural address after opening the common facilities block (Integrated Court Complex Phase II), he said the members of the Bar are neither trade unionists nor labourers but they are service providers, and should not harbour the sole desire of earning more money, he added.
The acting Chief Justice said each one of you functioning inside the “beautiful building” should ensure quality dispensation of justice. There has been aberrations in the recent past resulting in the Bar and the Bench not acting together. Stating that they are two sides of the same coin, he said the body cannot render justice unless the two work together.
Justice Satish K Agnihotri said the members of the Bar should not feel that they could pass order, not falling under judicial jurisdiction, by force or by shouting.
He said the Bench should not succumb to such pressures, and any judicial servant falling prey to such pressures should be placed under suspension. A judicial officer should uphold the constitution, equality, fairness and non-arbitrariness, the justice added.
Referring to CM N Rangasamy’s request for setting up a High Court Bench in the Union Territory, Justice Agnihotri said as per the Constitution, every State should have a High Court, but not the Union Territory. But if Puducherry puts forth the demand for one claiming the increased number of crime cases, then it could be considered, he added.