Learn managerial skills to bring down pending cases: Justice P Sathasivam

While addressing the officers,Justice Sathasivam stressed on the need for judges to have managerial skills and said,“The most important management tool is Information and Communication Technology. The judiciary must use this tool effectively to cope with the problem of the rising number of pending cases at courts.”

Talking about the benefits of technology,he said,“Today,with advancement in technology,every piece of information is only a click away. If a judge is technology friendly,then while sitting overseas,he can check the details of a case and question the concerned lawyer accordingly.”

He added that though the Supreme Court is fully equipped with computer system,for better management and speedy trials,all subordinate courts should also be computerised.

Justice Sathasivam stressed on the behavioral skills of judges,saying,“Judges must behave respectfully with lawyers,court staff/registry,subordinate officers,litigants and others. Judges should show respect and politeness towards lawyers but at the same time should be in a position to control their proceedings. It will be only possible,if a judge is competent enough and well-read about the case.” Pointing towards non-implementation of amendments in the laws,he said,“Several new amendments have been made in the laws for the betterment of women,children and elderly people,but these are not used by the judges. It will be appropriate for the new members of the judiciary to take note of these new amendments before passing judgments.”

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul,Chief Justice,Punjab and Haryana High Court-cum-Patron in Chief,Chandigarh Judicial Academy talked about the importance of punctuality and said that judges should write short and crisp judgments,instead of writing theses. “A judgment should be clear and short,and should not lead to ambiguity,” he said.