Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday laid stress on taking in-house corrective measures to ensure discipline, judicial propriety and accountability in all courts, and criticised some of high courts for procrastinating PILs.
Prasad was speaking on the occasion of Independence Day in the apex court lawn where Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi unfurled the national flag in the presence of other dignitaries, including Attorney General K K Venugopal and senior advocates.
Prasad said that there should be a fast-track approach for disposal of old appeals as criminal and civil appeals of 1980s are still pending in high courts.
"The way PIL is being detained in some states by the high courts as if they are running parallel to their state governance. What should be done?...Equally important is that in-house corrective measures should be there including in the apex court to ensure discipline, judicial propriety and accountability," he said.
Prasad further said, "I see criminal appeals of 1982/83 still pending in the high courts. I don't want to take names but they are pending in high courts. Civil appeals of 1977/78 are pending and even the first appeals are pending...There should be a fast-track approach for disposal of old appeals. Take up 10-year-old cases in priority and then come to five years' old."
Venugopal said that the advocates practising at the apex court will also practise at the court of appeal and
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of the event, Venugopal also said, "Article 370 is a good move by the Centre."
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