Quest for Justice

 Justice is a basic tenet of life and liberty. This statement looks very simple but has a very deep-rooted meaning. A wrong done to an individual either in commercial contracts, personal contracts, personal laws, public domain yields into a desire to set the wrong right, get compensated, and have the satisfaction that the wrong has been undone. 

We see this in the age-old litigation matter where the families generation after generation keep fighting in courts for their rights and get justice. The desire to get justice within a reasonable time is a must for a society lest it may give rise to loss of faith in the institution of judiciary and the justice delivery system and finally decay the social fabric as it is presently happening in India. 

Pendency of cases in India has been a topic in vogue for the past 40 years or so or maybe more. At any given time, the number of judges was never adequate to deal with the pending number of cases. Each time the Supreme court sees a new chief justice appointed, the first problem, promise, and the solution we hear is about the pendency of cases, but each time its different words different speaker but the crux and the result remain the same - increased pendency of cases and time period. The institution and the political establishment have to introspect as to why despite repeated promises and efforts (though half-hearted) the desired result has not come out as it is expected to be. As I see it, the answer lies in the priorities of the government and of the people.  The government never thinks justice delivery to be a priority for the people. A good justice system would have the following benefits:

(i) Early resolution of disputes reinforce the fear and respect of law leading to a better and more disciplined society;

(ii) Emotional and social satisfaction amongst the complainants and thus boosting the happiness quotient of the citizenry;

(iii) Saving of crucial time and monetary resources for the complainant and thus re-allocation of funds for better causes;