Judicial system must work like hospitals: Chief Justice of India
Govt working towards ensuring inclusive development and social justice: CM
Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant today laid the foundation stone of the Mandi Judicial Court Complex, to be constructed at a cost of Rs.152 crore in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The state-of-the-art court complex would be built on 9.6 hectares of land and would have four blocks, providing better facilities for judges, lawyers and the public.
On the occasion while addressing a legal literacy camp, Justice Surya Kant said that judicial complexes need to function like hospitals. He said people go to hospitals with hope and the judicial system should also work with the same spirit of service. People come to courts with the expectation of relief and justice. He said that with increasing facilities, the responsibility of the judicial system was also increasing.
He said that Mandi is also known as Chhoti Kashi, where millions of people visit with great devotion. He said that today the foundation of a temple of justice is being laid at this place, which will soon be completed.
He said that today’s gathering was very important, everyone talks about fundamental rights, but fundamental duties are also an integral part of the Constitution and should be followed. He said that Himachal Pradesh has preserved its natural beauty, therefore it is necessary to make people aware of their fundamental rights. He said similar programmes should be organised even at the grassroots level so that awareness about fundamental duties can increase.
Justice Surya Kant said that the love and respect of the people has brought him to Himachal Pradesh again and he feels honoured by their affection.
Sukhu welcomed Justice to Himachal Pradesh and invited him to visit the state again. In his address, he said that ensuring access to justice and rights for every citizen of the state is the commitment of the government. He said the government is working towards inclusive development and social justice in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.
He said that through education, healthcare, social security and transparent administration, the government is ensuring that every citizen gets equal opportunities and that the roots of democracy become stronger. He said that the government has adopted about 6,000 orphaned children as “Children of the State”, for which the first law of its kind in the country has been enacted. He said that the legal age of marriage for girls has been increased to 21 years so that they can have rights and opportunities equal to boys. Giving equal rights to daughters, the government has provided them equal rights in ancestral property up to 150 bighas, which earlier was limited only to sons.
To ensure the education of the children of widowed women, the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana has been started, under which the state government is bearing the cost of their education. He said that by organizing revenue Lok Adalats, the government has resolved about 5.5 lakh pending cases which had been pending for several years.
Sukhu said that the Constitution is not merely a legal document but a symbol of the nation’s core ideals, values and aspirations. He said that the contribution of B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, will always be remembered, as he led the drafting of the Constitution and ensured that India’s democracy is based on the principles of equality, justice and liberty. He said that along with fundamental rights, fundamental duties are equally important. If we wish to enjoy our rights, we must perform our duties with sincerity.
He said that the Revenue Deficit Grant that Himachal Pradesh received as its constitutional right has now been discontinued, which is a major challenge for the financial condition of the state. This grant was being given to Himachal Pradesh under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, and under the arrangement that began in 1952 the state had been receiving this grant continuously for the past 73 years.
Chief Justice of HP High Court Justice Sh. Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia said that today’s discussion is the result of collective efforts to ensure that justice reaches every individual. He said that justice is not limited only to courtrooms but also includes awareness of rights, access to legal aid and providing timely assistance.
High Court Judge Sh. Vivek Thakur said that after the country’s independence more emphasis was placed on fundamental rights. He said that if we perform our fundamental duties, the protection of fundamental rights automatically follows.
High Court Judge Sh. Ajay Mohan Goel welcomed the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Minister and all dignitaries present at the programme. He said that the long-standing demand for a new judicial complex in Mandi has now been fulfilled and it will become one of the best complexes in the country.
High Court Judge Sandeep Sharma presented the vote of thanks.
On this occasion, judges of the Himachal Pradesh High Court including Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Sushil Kukreja, Virender Singh, Ranjan Sharma, Bipin Chander Negi, Rakesh Kainthla, Jia Lal Bhardwaj and Romesh Verma were present.
Chief Minister’s political advisor Sunil Sharma, Advocate General Anup Rattan, former CPS Sohan Singh Thakur, District Congress President Smt. Champa Thakur, Chairman of the SC/ST Development Corporation Lal Singh Kaushal, Vice-Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Water Management Board Shashi Sharma, Congress leader Jagdish Reddy, Secretary to the Chief Minister Ashish Singhmar, DC Apoorv Devgan, SP Vinod Kumar, along with judicial officers and office bearers and members of the Mandi District Bar Association and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.