Even judges enjoy rights to work with dignity: CJI

Chief justice of India (CJI) SH Kapadia today expressed anguish over pathetic working conditions in trial courts in the country, saying even judges enjoy the rights enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution.

"For the last 20 years, I have been seeing the pathetic condition in which most the states' district judges are working. There is no house, no rooms, no proper place to work. I have myself seen those courts," he said.

The Article 21 pertains to having a person or a human society to live with dignity and this includes even the judges, justice Kapadia said.

The CJI said the country was receiving very good foreign investments because the rule of law still prevails and exists in the largest democracy of the world.

"Some of our neighbours have been ruled by law and we are lucky to have the rule of law, which is a very vital distinction. It is an assets which one needs to protect.

"Today we are getting very good investment particularly in form of foreign institutional investments and FDIs because, this country has established a brand name in the sense that rule of law still prevails and exist in the democratic set up of India," he said at an inaugural function of the sixth district court complex here.

Emphasising the need for adequate judicial infrastructure, justice Kapadia said no justice delivery mechanism can work efficiently without it and expressed satisfaction over efforts made by Delhi government in this regard.

"Can you have a judicial delivery justice system or justice delivery mechanism without a proper infrastructure? The answer is no.

"All the three wings of the government be it executive or legislature or judiciary all accepts that we need to have a justice delivery mechanism thereby a proper infrastructure is put in place. But because of financial constraints, these dreams are not fulfilled. But today, I am proud to say at least in this state my dream is fulfilled," the CJI said.

Kapadia said he had gone through the statistical data of the last 10 years regarding budget allocation for the judiciary.

While other states have below one per cent of their GDP being allocated to the judiciary, Delhi tops the chart with 1.6%, he said.

Delhi high court chief justice Dipak Misra said Rs313 crore court complex project at Saket was a "dream project" and will prove to be a "temple of justice".

"This is the first time in India that bar room is furnished for the bar. You will not find it anywhere in India where the furnished bar is given by the high court," he said, adding the court complex at Saket epitomises modernity with dignity.

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said the state is ready to give "whatever required for the judicial system".

"We want to make Delhi the capital of best judicial system. We are opening the sixth district court complex. Two more to come as and when need arise. We can give whatever require for the judicial system," she said, adding the judiciary is repository of public faith.