Common People Shouldn't Be Frightened By Complex Court Procedures, No Place For Fear In Independent India: President Droupadi Murmu

The President of India Droupadi Murmu said that there is no place of fear in independent India and the system must ensure that common people are not scared of approaching Court and resorting to Court procedures.

The President was speaking at Bhubaneswar on Thursday where she inaugurated the new Judicial Court Complex for the judgeship of Khordha district. The event was attended by Raghubar Das, Governor of Odisha, Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Administrative Judge of Khordha district along with other Judges of the High Court and Judicial Officers.

At the outset, the President expressed satisfaction about the concept against the backdrop of which the judicial complex has been constructed. She said that the building takes care of various segments of people and their unique needs as facilities like creche, ramp, vulnerable witness deposition centre and separate washrooms for women and transgenders have been made.

Hope for Ending 'Culture of Adjournments'

While addressing gathering, the President stated that if justice is not delivered on time, then it results in not delivering the justice at all. She underlined that the poor people are the worst sufferers of the 'culture of adjournment' as they neither possess money nor manpower to rush to the Courts frequently.

She reiterated what she had stated in the All-India District Judges' Conference held earlier this year in New Delhi. She expressed hope that all the stakeholders shall find a way to avoid adjournments in the interest of common people.

Language Barriers in Dispensation of Justice

Saying about language barriers in the dispensation of justice, the first citizen said that common people often do not understand what their lawyers argue and what opinion the Judges give on their lis.

She stressed that important judgments of Courts must be translated into regional languages and ought to be made available to the general public. She was pleased to know that the judgments are now being translated to Odia and Santhali languages, which are available in the websites of the Supreme Court and Orissa High Court.

The President said that the efficiency of district judiciary is critical for providing justice to common people as they usually take shelter of District Courts while in legal distress. She commended the establishments of Grama Nyayalayas to dispense justice in remote regions of Odisha.

Representation of Women in Judiciary

Highlighting the empowerment and representation of women, she said that women's participation in judiciary must increase. She further noted that currently, the Odisha Judicial Service is comprised of 48% female officers and she expressed confidence that the number of female officers will increase in the coming years.

In this context, she recalled the endeavour made by Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das for inclusion of women in the legal profession. She threw light on history of legal profession and how women were denied entry into the Bar despite having law degrees.

She said that it is due to the effort of the Utkal Gourab that Patna High Court and the Privy Council delivered historic decisions paving way for entry of women into legal profession and ensuring changes in the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879. She hoped that women of this generation shall acknowledge the efforts of Madhusudan Das by participating more in legal profession.

New Criminal Laws: End of Colonial Laws

The President praised the Union Government for introducing new criminal laws i.e. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), which according to her ended colonial influence in our laws. She further stated that by introduction of the criminal law regime, justice has been prioritised over punishment. She said that this move is a step in the positive direction.

Black Coat Syndrome

The Head of the State discussed about 'black coat syndrome'. She said like 'white coat syndrome' i.e. fear for hospitals, common people often hesitate and fear to approach Courts as they are mostly unaware of complex procedures of law. They are scared of lawyers and judges.

“There is no place of fear in independent India. If an independent citizen is frightened of system, ruler, administrator, police and judges, then can it be said that he is truly independent?” she asserted.

She quoted Rabindranath Tagore, “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high”. She stated that Tagore had a vision for fearless nation and India is continuously proceeding in that direction. She, thus, urged the stakeholders to make Courts, police stations and government establishments people-friendly.