Concerned at rising pendency of old cases, CJI writes to CJ’s of High Courts asking them to ensure disposal of cases pending for over 5 years, without delay

Concerned at rising pendency of cases older than five years in High Courts, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice Mr. H.L. Dattu has written to Chief Justices of all HCs asking them to ensure that such cases are not pending in any court, including the subordinate judiciary under them. 

(Chief Justice of India, H.L. Dattu. Photo courtesy: PTI)

The Times of India, has reported that the Chief Justice of India had written to the Chief Justices of High Courts last month as pendency of old cases had substantially gone up in many of these Courts. 

Pendency of over five-year-old cases has significantly increased in high courts, with 30-40% of such cases in many of them. In the Allahabad high court, country's largest High Court, this pendency is as high as 60%. Interestingly, pendency of such cases in subordinate courts has come down to 4%-6%. 

With subordinate Courts bringing down the pendency of older cases, the focus of the Apex Court is now on the High Courts to clear all cases pending on file for than five years, many of which are cases of heinous crimes against women and children.

Centre not in favour of reducing age of juveniles from 18 to 16 years, says Women & Child Development Minister, Maneka Gandhi

The Union Government on Thursday made it clear that it is not in favour of reducing the age of juveniles from 18 to 16 years but is proposing changes in processes related to treatment of heinous offences committed by those in the age group of 16 to 18 years

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi said that there have been demands from many quarters to review the system and framework of juvenile justice. 

"In such cases, the Juvenile Justice Board may transfer the proceedings to a children's court, which is a Court of Sessions," the Minister said. She said that in coming to a decision, the court would be assisted by able psychologists, psycho social workers and experts.

"The children's court will conduct an assessment of the physical and mental status capacity of the child to commit such offence and the circumstances in which the offence was committed," Maneka Gandhi said.

During the process of inquiry, trial and after trial, the child will be kept in a place of safety and not in a jail, she said. She also added that under no circumstances would the sentence passed by a Court be life imprisonment or death.

Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer passes away

The Kerala Law Review with a deep sense of sorrow and grief, wishes to break to its readers, the news of the passing away of Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and renowned jurist, Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer today afternoon. He was 99 going by his profile in the Supreme Court records and had just been felicitated in his centenary year by citizens of Kochi earlier in the month of November.

Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer

From playing a vital role in securing the passage of legislations in favour of the poor and oppressed classes as Kerala’s first Law Minister in the Communist Government, to giving path-breaking verdicts, voicing his opinions on causes that mattered to society and the nation, and penning 105 books and a colossal list of other published works, his contributions to the nation and society, far too numerous and groundbreaking to be recounted individually, will be etched in the hearts of his countrymen for all time.

After the dismissal of the Communist Ministry in 1959, he returned to active practice. In 1968, he was sworn in as a judge of the High Court of Kerala.  In the year 1973, he was sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. 

He was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan in the year 1999. 

Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer who had been admitted to Medical Trust Hospital, Ernakulam since last Friday due to bad health, developed weakness on the left side of the body on Tuesday. After a CT scan, done on neurological advice, medication was started.'

He was put on a liquid diet through a nasal feeding tube since Monday, as he had been disinclined to take food orally for the past few days. He had high sodium levels and an abnormal heart rhythm.  Blood investigations however showed worsening renal parameters.

The end came today afternoon, at about 3.45 P.M which hospital authorities attributed to multiple organ failure.

at 3.45 pm due to multiple organ failure.

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