Expedite verdicts, SC judge tells lower courts

- Lawyers asked to update knowledge to help clients
- Visakha Bar Association appeals for High Court Bench

Visakhapatnam: “Why should the clients approach higher courts for appeals if the lower courts deliver correct and prompt judgments. Even in the case of appeals too, we depend upon the arguments of lower courts and in the process, if there was any error or mistake rolled out at any stage either with lack of knowledge or awareness, it would directly affect the clients,” observed Supreme Court Judge Justice J Chalameswar.

Justice Chalameswar was addressing the members of Visakhapatnam Bar Association at a programme organised on the district court premises here on Sunday. He also suggested to the lawyers to concentrate on cases basing on the importance and intensity of individual cases. “If the lawyers work with good knowledge, the judges could draft the judgment copies more effectively. Contrary to that, if the lawyers leave or fail to highlight the important facts of the case during arguments, it would be a great difficult for the Judges to draft the judgments,” he explained.

Lastly, Justice Chalameswar appealed to the lawyers to work without succumbing to any outside pressures failing which would harm the clients. Responding to the plea made by the association for lack of basic amenities in the courts, another Judge of the Apex Court Justice L Nageswara Rao, who paid his maiden visit to the district court, felt that those who are working here are more fortunate as all courts in north India, including Allahabad and lower courts in New Delhi, too, have no basic facilities. The Justice said that comparing to the previous years, the present enrollment to the Bar is higher and creation of basic infrastructure and other facilities lies with the governments.

He called upon the lawyers to become successful professionals with hard work and good knowledge. “Without concentrating on facilities, first update knowledge and concentrate on your work. Why can’t you people do something to the society in the form of plantation or helping to the needy,” he maintained.

District Judge P V Jyothirmaye disclosed that there are 77 different courts here and the total pendency of cases is 65,478 at the end of 2016 of which 33,271 are criminal cases. Admitting the lack of facilities on the court complex, the District Judge said that the new court complex coming up would cater to the needs.

Presiding over the meeting, Visakhapatnam Bar Association president N V Suman urged the Apex Court Judges for the High Court Bench for Vizag. Later, the Judges felicitated lawyers who completed four decades in the profession. A large number of advocates and judicial officers were present.