Ever since Mr Lodha Ji took over as the Chief Justice of India his focus, priority and determination for ensuring speedy delivery of justice will make him a Joan of arc in the judicial history of India. His statements, coupled with rational and scientific planning indicating their feasibility in implementation shows the seriousness of his thinking. He will be remembered and revered forever inspite of the short period of 5 months that he is going to be the CJI.
Let me give my experience for the few years (writ section of Madras High Court),
When Mr Chandru J was the Judge, he was so knowledgeable and committed that admissions which were usually around 60 a day were disposed off in just 15 minutes, only in the case of dismissals he will give the party opportunity of being heard. Then he will take up notice of motion and adjourned admissions, completing whatever be the number of items listed even up to 150 a day. He was tough and unpredictable in his adjudication. Then came Justice Venkata Raman who would complete 200 items in a day. When it came to Paul Vasanth kumar J, he listens but very quickly and mostly gives a chance for the petitioners by way of notice of motion and takes up all the adjourned admissions, listens to the arguments and always gave priority to urgent hearings during the day. It was the same with Rajeswaran J. Wonderful Judges, relief oriented, deeply concerned with Justice and the problems and pain of genuine petitioners. Then came KK Sasidharan J who was in the bench for six months, extremely knowledgeable, quick and highly focussed, took up and gave priority for important cases concerning education, students, poor and public interest matters. They were, disposing almost above 150 cases in a day. KK SJ, PV SJ, Rajeswar J were all relief oriented, kind and highly knowledgeable. Now came B Rajendran J who is known to be a dynamic judge, looking after the miscellaneous matters. BRJ on the first day, promised to dispose off all the cases - notice of motion and adjourned admission quoting his performance in Madurai. Their lordships now spends almost a day in deliberating only admissions. There is no relief for most of the petitioners under adjourned admissions or notice of motions during the past two months. In other words, urgent and important matters after being considered by him at the admission stage are lying without any redressal (He will not allow mentioning). Everyone are dejected and added to this getting the matters listed will be a nightmare. One has to beg the posting clerk but even after being listed it will not reach. This clearly shows that there is an urgent need for some sort of standards to be fixed in the disposal of cases and there should be an effective and transparent system which should indicate appraisal of the performance of the judges,
a) The Total no of cases dismissed b) The Total no appeals admitted and numbers set aside and rejected c) Total no of adjourned admissions outstanding and disposed during the period d) Total no of notice of motions outstanding and admitted e) Judgments acknowledged as Landmark and widely published in the news media.
I humbly request the Honorable CJI and CJH to consider the above suggestions which in my humble opinion are the effective tools which can contribute to the speedy and effective justice.