Chief Justice of India Justice N.V. Ramana on Saturday said the importance of strengthening judicial infrastructure cannot be overstated. Sufficient judicial infrastructure can help improve access to justice, by catering to the ever-rising number of cases and litigants, and their changing needs.
Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new National Law University proposed to be established at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Justice Ramana said, “Courts in India still operate from dilapidated structures, without proper facilities. Such a situation is severely detrimental to the experience of litigants and lawyers. It is an unpleasant work environment for Court staff and Judges, making it difficult to effectively perform their functions. We neglected and failed to focus on providing good infrastructure for Court in India after the British left.
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“I am championing the National Judicial Infrastructure Corporation, which will develop concepts of the National Court Development Project and its implementation. The NJIC shall be along the lines of different infrastructure development statutory bodies that work towards creating National Assets across the country. One of the design principles that the NJIC will follow, is socially responsible and inclusive architecture.”
The event was also attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Allahabad High Court Acting Chief Justice Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Supreme Court judges and senior officials, among other dignitaries.
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Read the full text of CJI Ramana’s speech below:
speech-at-allahabad-hc-11092021