Judge in the dock
The judiciary is the cornerstone of India’s democratic framework, charged with upholding constitutional values and serving as an impartial arbiter of disputes.
There cannot be instant justice, but there cannot be constant delays in justice delivery either, else people become restive and try to take law in their hands, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday.
His remarks came a day after Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde said justice can never be instant and loses its character when it becomes revenge. He had also noted that the criminal justice system should reconsider its position towards the time consumed in disposal of cases.
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The comments came after four accused in the gang-rape and murder of a Hyderabad veterinarian were shot dead in an alleged encounter with the Telangana police, triggering a tsunami of reactions across the spectrum — ranging from appreciation to condemnation.
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Delivering the Virendra Bhatia Memorial Lecture on Pillars of Democracy, the Vice-President said, “There cannot be instant justice, but there cannot be constant delays either. Otherwise people become restive and try to take law in their hands.”
To make judicial process more people friendly, Naidu called for undertaking court proceedings in local languages so that people can understand it.
He also said there is a need to decide upon the certain category of cases, such as the election petitions and criminal cases against sitting MPs and MLAs, in a time-bound manner.
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