Judiciary working overtime to handle cases: CJI

Stressing on the need to set up more courts — especially family and commercial — the CJI said the government needs to provide a better,conducive environment for the smooth functioning of judicial activities. He also stressed on the need to give courts the number of judges that had been sanctioned for it. “The sanctioned strength for the Allahabad High Court is 160. But for years,the court is working with around 50 per cent (78) judges,” Balakrishnan said,clarifying that not a single case of appointment of judges for the Allahabad High Court was pending with him.

Thanking the state government for granting 42 acres of land for the proposed building,the CJI said some state governments were not that keen on providing facilities to the judiciary.

Praising the design of the building,he cited the example of the Madurai High Court building,which was completed in a record 18 months.

“I hope the new building here will be completed in a year’s time,” he said and also suggested that a meditation and a prayer room be added. “During the pendency of cases,litigants can take solace in the meditation room and when the case is disposed,they need a praying room,” Balakrishnan said in a lighter vein.

According to the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court,Chandramauli Kumar Prasad,at the beginning of the year,9,11,858 cases were pending at the court. But now,at the end of the year,the figure has swelled to 9,58,488.