Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday expressed deep concern about the plight of common citizens who are overwhelmed by the lengthy and complex court proceedings. He emphasized the need for institutionalizing the process of dispensing justice through Lok Adalats, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, to ease the burden on the judicial system.
Chandrachud was speaking at the commemoration function of the Special Lok Adalat, which was held from August 3rd to August 7th in an effort to reduce the backlog of cases. The Chief Justice highlighted the importance of Lok Adalats as a viable alternative, stating that many people simply want to escape the complexities of the court system and find a swift resolution to their disputes.
He poignantly described the frustration people experience, stating, “People are so fed up with the matters of the court that they just want a settlement. This process is the punishment and that is a cause of concern for all of us as judges,” quoting Chandrachud from the commemoration ceremony. He added that “parties are ready to accept any sort of settlement because they want to get out of the system.”
CJI Chandrachud cited several cases successfully settled during the Special Lok Adalat, including a motor accident case where the claimant readily accepted a lower compensation amount to avoid further court involvement, despite being eligible for a higher sum.
The Chief Justice also emphasized the crucial role of advocates in the success of Lok Adalats. He explained that when panels were constituted for the Special Lok Adalat, it was ensured that each panel consisted of two judges and two members of the Bar. This deliberate composition aimed to give advocates a sense of ownership over the institution.
Chandrachud stated, “The purpose behind doing this was to give ownership to the advocates over the institution because this is not an institution which is only run by the judges, and this is not the institution of the judges, for the judges, by the judges,” according to PTI. He further asserted that the Supreme Court, despite being located in Delhi, is not the Supreme Court of Delhi, but rather the Supreme Court of India.
The CJI noted that the Special Lok Adalat initially began with seven benches, expressing a degree of skepticism about its success. However, by Thursday, the number had grown to 13 benches due to the high demand and volume of cases being resolved. He highlighted the main purpose of Lok Adalats, which is to bring justice closer to the people and assure them of a consistent presence in their lives.
