Seminar on judicial activism focuses on role of PILs, CBI

CHANDIGARH, Jan 9: “The judicial system in the country has been engaged more often in taking decisions unfavourable for the public rather than taking people-friendly decisions”. This was stated by Chander Shekhar, general secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions while speaking on the seminar `Judicial activism and democratic rights’ organised by the Chetna Manch at Kisan Bhawan,here today.

The speaker, while appreciating the positive steps taken by the judiciary, said,“The fast pace at which the society is degenerating has been slowed down to some extent by the intervention of the judiciary.” Naming public interest litigations (PIL) and the role of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the positive side of the active judiciary the speaker hailed all the positive and people friendly decisions taken by the courts.

However the discussion revolved around the negative decisions that had been taken by the High Courts of different states and some which had been upheld by the highest court of the land.

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Citing the example of Kerala High Court’s decision to impose ban on bandhs, Chander Shekhar said that bandhs were an integral part of democracy and had been so from the days of Indian struggle for Independence.

He criticised the soft stand taken by the judiciary regarding the cases against anti-social elements and the astonishingly long period taken to prosecute those involved in scams and white collar crimes.