We need inexpensive, accessible judicial system: Ex-CJI Lodha

We need quick, inexpensive and accessible justice so that everyone can avail equal justice, former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha said during an interview with ETV.

"The judicial process in the country is very costly. The Supreme Court advocates even charge as much as Rs 5 lakh per hour as their fee. In this context, the judicial process is becoming very expensive," he said.

Expressing concern about the huge pile up of cases in the courts, Lodha said the courts would have to work for round the year without any break to clear the backlog.

"The number of pending cases in the courts are huge. People can only get justice in time if courts work for all 365 days of the year," he said.

 

Lodha said that as the CJI he took several initiatives in this regard but they could not succeed due to several technical reasons of the Bar Council.

Responding to a question, Lodha said that the issue of appointment of judges is a tough job not only in India but in the world at large.

"Differences between the governments and judicial appointment bodies are seen across the world, not just in India. The important thing is that the persons being appointed as judges should be honest and impartial," he said.

Speaking about the judicial reforms, Lodha noted that they were not possible without police reforms.

"Judicial reform is not possible until our police forces are modernised, equipped with technology, given proper training and their workload is lessened," Lodha said.

Justice Lodha headed a three-member committee formed to suggest reforms in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which submitted its report to the Supreme Court recently.

Lodha said the committee had suggested certain changes to bring the game on the right track and that he was glad that the apex court has accepted many of the points.

"Cricket is like a religion in this country. It also unites the people. So, transparency is required in every aspect of the game management. The cases of match-fixing have brought bad name to the game," he said.

--IANS

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