core sector communique

While speaking at an Interactive Session at Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce Shri Moloy Ghatak, Hon’ble Minister of Law & Judiciary, Government of West Bengal said that the new Government has filled up all the 148 vacancies of Judges at various levels except the High Courts and at this moment no post is lying vacant. He lamented on the poor infrastructure available at the courts which are very frequently subjected to load shedding and the working hours of the Court are affected. State Government recently organised training camps for Government counsels with the idea to avoid the adjournment for speedy delivery of justice and about 7000 worth of books were given to all Government Lawyers who took training. On the pendency of cases he said that about 7 lacs cases are pending for disposal at South 24 Parganas alone and hoped that pendency will be reduced substantially within a year or two. He informed that Government is actively considering the proposal for ‘shift Courts’ on Saturday and Sunday to address the pendencies. On the establishment of the ‘Circuit Bench’ at North Bengal, the Minister informed that the tender for construction work has been floated and it is expected to be completed within two years. While replying to a query on the judicial enquiry instituted by the Government on the recent Moghrahat incident, he informed that the commission will inter alia enquire into the role of Police, role of the Electricity Officials extent of excess and the circumstances under which the incident took place and the Commission will submit its report within three months. Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen, Chairman of the High Power Committee for Gorkha Land Territorial Administration and the former Governor of West Bengal & Ex-Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court suggested that the different types of courts may be constituted for different types of cases. He suggested for Law Reforms Commission at the State level to address the issues of Judicial Reforms. He lamented on the large number of cases pending for under-trial prisoners and requested the Minister to ensure speedy justice for them. Shri Sudesh Sonthalia, immediate Past President of the Chamber in his welcome address suggested for an Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism to reduce litigation, a higher judicial services at all India level and promotion application of IT in the judicial sector.