Backlog in mind, CJI requests high courts: Settle pending cases during your vacations

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Speaking at the inauguration of the new red and pink sandstone building of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court spread over 40.2 acres here, Thakur reminded the judges and the lawyers that the facility available to them are developed from taxpayers’ money

“Rs 1,300 crore is a huge amount. It is the taxpayers’ money with which these facilities have been provided…Now, you cannot have any complaint that there is dearth of anything required for providing justice,” Thakur said, asking the lawyers and the judges to now focus on delivering justice to the people.
The CJI also spoke of his habit of visiting courts whenever he goes outside the country.

“Whenever I visit any country, I make it a point to visit their courts. But be it the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Washington Supreme Court in the United States or even our own Supreme Court in Delhi, none of their building stands in front of yours,” he said, adding that with the inauguration of new building even the expectation of people would increase as all kinds of facilities, from sufficient number of court rooms to air-conditioning and big halls, have been provided.
The CJI, who recently visited Allahabad to take part in the 150th anniversary celebration of the high court there, said something big should be done this year so that when the festivities come to a close, all could proudly say that so many cases have been settled.

“I will request that in the functions that you are having for the 150 years celebrations, you decide that something great is done, and at the valedictory event you can proudly say that so many thousands or lakhs of cases have been finalised,” he said.

Thakur, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, began his address by saying that he had planned to deliver his address in English but realised after listening to the welcome address by Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court D Y Chandrachud that Lucknow is the only other place besides Jammu and Kashmir where he can address in Urdu. (Chief Justice Chandrachud had surprised everyone when he addressed the gathering in Urdu.)

Calling himself a “Lucknow product” — Thakur was awarded honorary degree by Law University in Lucknow while his father completed his LLB from here in 1951 — the CJI said he was told by his father that Lucknow is a beautiful city where even abuses are hurled in a beautiful manner.

The Oudh Bar Association, which had earlier said it will boycott the inaugural function over the Bar not getting due representation in the ceremony, withdrew its call and attended the function. The CJI told the association that even the Supreme Court did not have a Bar room until two weeks ago, when two record rooms were shifted to make way for it and therefore the association members should not complain anymore.

Chief Justice Chandrachud had surprised everyone when he addressed the gathering in Urdu. He said that in past two and a half years of his stay in Uttar Pradesh, Hindi, Hindustani and Urdu have become close to his heart.

CJ Chandrachud reminded those in judicial services that while discharging their duties, they should remember that their role is not to rule over someone but to serve people. “Humara farza kisi par huqumat karna nahi, par logon ki khidmat karna hai,” Chandrachud said.

Reminding lawyers of their responsibilities and their contribution during Independence, Chandrachud said that lawyers by nature are “fearless and bold (bekhauf aur bebak)” and “have the courage to raise voice against any injustice”. He added that they should use this “rare gift” for the betterment of people.

Citing the past glory of Oudh Bar, he said that the new building is an amalgamation of old and modern. He informed that apart from having 20,000 sq feet of hall, the building would have 750 chambers for lawyers out of which 465 have already been constructed.

Also present on the occasion were Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Governors of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, Ram Naik and Kesari Nath Tripathi, respectively, as well as former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan. In his speech, the CM listed the efforts undertaken by his government in providing better facilities for the welfare of lawyers.