Apropos the editorial "Justice still denied" (April 30), the new Chief Justice of India, R M Lodha, rightly defended the collegium system and the appointment of more honest judges. Though justice is delayed, it's never denied. Inordinate or "enormous" delays are not the handiwork of courts; fast-tracking the cases to a popular demand is not their priority. For any case to meet its logical end, there are many things at play. Each case has to inevitably meander through adjournments and stays, special leave petitions to witnesses turning hostile and pending mercy pleas with the president. Not having enough judges can't be an excuse for speeding up trials. It's not fair to compare the Indian judiciary with other nations. Since judiciary deals primarily with delivering justice, the appointment of judges, creating higher courts at the regional level is the role of the executive.
Since the executive and judiciary both have their functions cut out as the two pillars of democracy, the so-called judicial overreach shouldn't be seen as transgressing into the executive domain, but as living up to its constitutional role as an upholder of the people's right to justice.
Ram Prabhu Raj Chennai
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