Haryananewswire: Justice Sathasivam for bringing down pendency of cases to zero level

by Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 29

Senior Judge of Supreme Court of India, Mr Justice P. Sathasivam today exhorted the Judicial Officers to take up on priority basis the cases that have been pending in courts for the last five or more years and added that the pendency of the cases should be brought down to zero level.

Justice Sathasivam was addressing the newly recruited Judicial Officers in the Valedictory Function of year long Induction Training Programme of Judicial Officers of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh Judicial Academy here today. These 168 Judicial Officers would holding their courts from July 1, 2013.

Justice Sathasivam hoped that Punjab and Haryana High Court would issue necessary instructions to the judges at district level regarding disposal of pending cases on priority basis. He said that they should also ensure the speedy trial of cases concerning crime against women and children.

He said that being the largest democratic country, India has the largest judicial system. Fifteen cases were being filed per 1000 population in the country and the national experience shows that the number of new cases filed in judicial system increases with the increase in literacy and economy. Therefore, with the increasing rate of literacy and per capita income, the number of cases filed per 1000 population is likely to be increased in the next few decades. “Consequently, you must have some managerial skills to cope up with the problem of potential escalation in the cases”, he added.

He said that to address the challenges in the judicial system, we required substantial upgradation of proper Court Management System and one such aspect is Information and Communication Technology. He said that all the Judicial Officers must have thorough knowledge to handle modern technology to increase their efficiency. While referring to the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Sathasivam said that Supreme Court is fully equipped with this system and anybody could know about the status of the case situation by clicking the button to see whether the case is pending or disposed off.

While giving mantras of success to the Judicial Officers, he said that the integrity of officers plays an important role in administration of justice. The judges should not loose temper in the court. Also, they should maintain punctuality and utilize full court timings. He said that the Judgment should be clear and free from ambiguity and they must avoid unnecessary delays in announcing judgments. He urged that every Judicial Officer should cultivate the art of Court Management System and also make sure that the law, regulations and policies were followed and administrative task were carried out. Behaviour of Judges in the Court is an important aspect of the Court Management System, he added.

While laying special emphasis on effective implementation of various Acts concerning women and children, Mr Justice Sathasivam said that many welfare legislations are available in our judicial system namely Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, Employment of Children Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, Juvenile Justice Act and Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. He asked them to ensure that the provisions of these legislations are adhered in letter and spirit. He said that recently the Parliament has also passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act under which stalking has been made punishable. However, an imprisonment of 20 years has been recommended in cases of gang rape.

Later, Justice Sathasivam also flagged off a bus and a tempo traveler provided to Chandigarh Judicial Academy by Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mr. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who is also the Patron-in-Chief, Chandigarh Judicial Academy congratulated the newly recruited Judicial Officers and urged them to uphold the judicial ethics to ensure clear judgment free from any ambiguity.

Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mr. Justice Surya Kant , senior Judges and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

No. IPRDH/2013

Vinay

CHANDIGARH, June 29- Haryana Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda has urged the Central Government to either increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy, maize, Bajra and cotton or as an alternative, a bonus of an equal amount may be announced in the larger interest of the farming community as the cost of cultivation of these crops has increased considerably.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the Chief Minister urged him to increase the MSP of paddy by at least Rs. 200 per quintal, of maize by Rs. 150 per quintal and that of Bajra and cotton by Rs. 100 per quintal so that the farmers get remunerative prices for their produce.

While drawing the attention of the Prime Minister towards the meager increase made in the MSP of paddy by the Government of India, Mr Hooda said, “the Government of India has enhanced the MSP of paddy by Rs 60 per quintal over the last year's MSP and fixed it at Rs 1310 per quintal for common_/and made an increase of 65 per quintal for Grade‑A at Rs. 1345 per quintal for Kharif marketing season 2013-14. The MSP announced is not adequate to cover even the cost of cultivation of paddy.”

Mr Hooda said that the cost of cultivation of paddy in Haryana is Rs. 1,757 per quintal and the State had recommended to the Government of India to fix Rs 1,850, Rs 1925 and Rs 2000 per quintal for common, fine and super fine categories. This meager increase is highly inadequate and will discourage the farming community.

He further said in his written communication that Bajra is an important crop grown in Haryana both as grain and fodder, which is generally grown in rain-fed areas where the economic condition of the farmers continues to be precarious. The MSP announced by the Government of India at Rs. 1250 per quintal will not even cover the cost of cultivation. The cost of cultivation of Bajra in our state is Rs. 1315 per quintal and the State Government had recommended its price as Rs. 1400 per quintal.

Mr Hooda also added that though maizecrop is an important cereal and fodder crop, yet its area and production have steadily decreased due to poor MSP. Government of
India is giving emphasis on crop diversification in the original green revolution states. The MSP which has been announced by the Government of India for maize at Rs 1310 per quintal will not encourage the farmers to diversify from paddy and sugarcane crops to maize crop. The cost of cultivation of maize in our state is Rs. 1654 per quintal and the State Government had recommended Rs. 1800 per quintal as MSP for maize, he added.

He said that likewise, cotton which is grown in an area of about six lakh hectares, its MSP should be fixed at least Rs. 4200 per quintal whereas the Government of India has announced only Rs. 3700 per quintal for medium staple cotton. The cost of cultivation of cotton itself comes to Rs. 3783 per quintal, added Mr Hooda.

No.IPRDH/2013

CHANDIGARH, June 29- Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda was presented with a cheque of Rs one crore for Chief Minister’s Relief Fund by Haryana Cooperation Minister Mr Satpal Sangwan and Chairman, HAFED, Capt. Chhatar Singh , here today.

Those present on the occasion included Vice Chairman of HAFED, Mr Jagjit Singh Sangwan, Additional Chief Secretary, Cooperation Department, Mrs Shakuntla Jakhu and Managing Director, HAFED, Mr Ashok Yadav .

No.IPRDH/2013