CJI announces constitution of "Social Justice Bench"; would function from 12th December

In an unparalleled stride, the Chief Justice of India, H.L. Dattu has ordered the constitution of a Special Bench titled as the "Social Justice Bench", to deal specially with the matters relating to society and its members, to secure social justice, one of the ideals of the Indian Constitution.

The Bench, comprising of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice U.U. Lalit would function from 12^th December, 2014 and in order to ensure that these matters are monitored on regular basis, will continue to sit on every working Friday at 2.00 p.m. Not only pending cases but fresh matters will also be dealt with by this Special Bench.

Explaining the purpose of the Bench, the announcement stated, "In Supreme Court several cases relating to the domain of 'social justice' are pending for several years. Hon'ble the Chief Justice of India is of the view that these cases shall be given a specialized approach for their early disposal so that the masses will realize the fruits of the rights provided to them by the constitutional text."

Mentioning cases of social justice summarily, it said that in order to meet the goals of the Constitution, Constitutional mechanisms have to play a proactive role in ensuring the release of surplus food grains lying in stocks for the use of people living in the drought affected areas; to frame a fresh scheme for public distribution of food grains; to take steps to prevent untimely death of the women and children for want of nutritious food; providing hygienic mid-day meal besides issues relating to children; to provide night shelter to destitute and homeless; to provide medical facilities to all the citizen irrespective of their economic conditions; to provide hygienic drinking water; to provide safety and secured living conditions for the fair gender who are forced into prostitution, etc.,

Read the announcement here.