Cuttack: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice TS Thakur on Sunday said the judiciary has maintained its credibility despite the fact that the challenges of credibility have kept multiplying.
“When it comes to judiciary, the confidence of the people has, over the years, multiplied, increased and strengthened. And that is what makes our challenge greater to live up to the confidence of the people by continued hard work and rectitude which is not an easy task,” he said while addressing the opening day of the centenary celebrations of the circuit court of Patna High Court for Odisha here.
Addressing lawyers and judges on the occasion, Justice Thakur said “You are permanently and almost every moment, inside the court and outside the court, working under public gaze. People assess you, judge you but you are not affected by their judgement. Some of them are pleasant, some are unpleasant. But the fact remains that the judiciary has maintained its credibility despite the fact that the challenges to credibility have kept multiplying”.
Referring to the vacancies of judges in various courts across the country, Justice Thakur said over three crore cases are pending in various courts across the country. “Measures are being initiated to fill up the vacant posts which will help in the speedy delivery of justice,” he pointed out.
In his address, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said history was made in May 1916 when the Circuit Court of Patna High Court for Odisha held its first sitting at Cuttack.
"Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das was there to express hope that this would lead to the establishment of a separate High Court for Odisha one day. We all are happy that all his dreams were fulfilled as Odisha became a separate province twenty years later in 1936 and the permanent High Court for Odisha was established in 1948,” he added.
He further said the importance of the judiciary in a democratic society can hardly be exaggerated as it administers justice, protects the rights of the citizens and acts as an interpreter and the guardian of the Constitution.
“Upholding the rule of law and making every citizen equal before the law is one of the primary responsibilities of the judiciary. I believe that our courts have largely succeeded in fulfilling this responsibility,” the chief minister pointed out.
Referring to the achievement of the Orissa High Court, Patnaik said it has produced many outstanding Judges. Over the years, the judgments of this court have been widely acclaimed, he said.
“Besides, the cooperation between the bench and the bar, one of the key parameters for successful legal system delivery, has made it possible for the court to successfully deal with a large number of cases of a varied nature to render justice to the people,” he observed.
The chief minister also said the state government has taken up the issue of filling up of vacant judges positions in the Orissa High Court with the Centre for smooth functioning of the judicial system that delivers justice to all sections of society in the state.
Supreme Court Judge Justice Dipak Mishra, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Vineet Saran and all former Chief Justices of the Orissa High Court were present at the inaugural celebration.
Besides, Chief Justices and Judges of other High Courts will also attend the centenary celebration which will continue till May 20.
Bijay Ragada, secretary of Orissa High Court Bar Association, informed that there will be a seminar and cultural programmes by the Bar Association, High Court staff, District Judge Court staff members and moharirs of advocates during the celebration.