Kochi, Nov 16: Chief Justice of India K G
Balakrishnan on Sunday rubbishes reports of tussle between
judiciary, executive and legislature and said it to be a media
creation.
"There is no so called tussle. It is only the creation of
the media," Balakrishnan said rubbishing reports in this
regard.
"I met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker
Somnath Chatterjee recently. There is no tussle," the CJI said
in an interview to Malyalam television channel.
"The Speaker has criticised the judiciary and when we get
opportunity, we also reply back," he said.
To bring down pendency of cases, each state should ask
for more courts. Judiciary is not getting whole-hearted
support from the concerned state governments for setting up
courts, he said.
On corruption in judiciary, the CJI said, "I have never
said corruption is not there in judiciary... However, either
most of the complaints against judges are vague or are being
given by litigants who have lost cases. We cannot inquire into
such allegations... But when special instances are brought to
the court's notice like the case against Kolkata High Court
judge, action has been initiated."
On ways to improve the judicial system in the country,
Balakrishnan said the quality of justice system has to be
improved.
Efforts are being made to ensure that media reported
court proceedings in a correct and fair manner, he said,
adding that a week long training for media personnel will be
held at IGNOU to improve their quality.
Elaborating on the problem of pendency of cases, the CJI
said, India is the only country where there is such huge
pendency of cases.
The Supreme Court gets about 41,000 cases. In no other
country, so many cases are being filed, he said stressing the
need for setting up more courts.
In Delhi, the Dwarka court complex is like a Western
court having lawyers chambers and very modern chambers for
judges. They have lots of facilities. Other states should
follow this pattern.
On increasing number of PILs, he said in all the high
courts the public interest litigations come up before the
Chief Justice's court. In some courts they are handled
strictly, in some others they are not.
Asked if the courts are turning their back on
environmental issues, he said, it is a wrong notion. "When a
new project comes up, some complaints (PIL) will follow. The
court through its 'third eye' see the motive behind the PIL.
So there is a general belief that the courts are turning their
back."
"Nature and development should go hand in hand. If for
every project, we say it will harm the environment, then there
will be no development," he said.
On land acquisition by government for development
projects, he said a scientific study should be done first
before land acquisition proceedings are launched.
A family is completely shattered when their land is
acquired and dwelling demolished. The companies should tell
how many would get employment and a systematic study should be
done before land acquisition, he said. The acquisition should
be implemented in a more humane manner.
Asked if he is being bogged down by heavy workload, he
said, "never thought there would be so much workload. There
are daily sittings in the Supreme Court, administration work
is there, seminars have to be attended, visiting various
courts etc. Lot of time is being spent. We have to meet
people. I feel it is a heavy job...," he said.
Bureau Report