CJI NV Ramana while speaking on the Indian Judicial System
CJI NV Ramana while speaking on the Indian Judicial System observed that the legal system presently in India is colonial and not suited for the Indian population.
He was speaking at an event organised by the Karnataka State Bar Council to pay tributes to Late Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar, who had passed away unexpectedly in April this year.
He asserted that the need of the hour is the Indianisation of our legal system.
“When I say Indianisation, I mean the need to adapt to the practical realities of our society and localise our justice delivery systems”, he said.
CJI Ramana cited as an example the plight of parties from a rural place fighting a family dispute who are usually made to feel out of place in the Court. They do not understand the arguments or pleadings which are mostly in English a language alien to them. These days judgments have become lengthy, which further complicates the position of litigants. For the parties to understand the implications of a judgment, they are forced to spend more money.
He highlighted that courts have to be litigant-friendly.
“The common man should feel scared of Judges and Courts. Courts should be comforting … The focus point of any legal system is the litigant … Courts should be transparent and accountable in nature“, he said.
He continued to state that it is the duty of lawyers and judges to create an environment that is comforting for the litigants and other stakeholders and that we must not forget that the focal point of any justice delivery system is “the litigant- the justice seeker”.
Remembering Justice Shantanagoundar, Chief Justice Ramana said,
“The country has lost a common man’s Judge … He was interested in taking up the cases of the poor and the underprivileged, while he was practicing … His judgements were simple, abundant, practical and immense with common sense … He was always prepared for hearings. One thing which stood out was his sense of humour and infectious laughter. Inspite of all his health reasons, he always came to sit for hearings. I asked him not to strain and he said that he can’t sit at home. He was built with a different fibre. He sat for hearings till the last day.”
