July 29, 2018:

CJI said, separate standards are being worked out to assess the quality of judicial work.

It is for the first time we hear that both the Supreme Court and high courts are trying to devise a mechanism to continuously assess the quality of judicial work in trial courts.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra disclosed this on Saturday at a Conference in New Delhi.

Now nearly 17,000 judicial officers across India will follow it with keen interest what follows the announcement that their judicial work will be assessed on a continuous basis, which was earlier done only when they were due for promotion or being considered for appointment as high court judges.

CJI Misra further added that separate standards are being worked out to assess the quality of judicial work. I am sure that the same will further enhance working at the level of subordinate judiciary.

At the conclusion of the two-day national conference of HC CJs and SC judges on 'initiative to reduce pendency and delays in judicial system', the CJI said the judiciary has decided to simultaneously tackle very old pending cases without compromising on the goal to achieve elimination of arrears of five-year-old cases.

CJI addded that,"This drive is one of the very successful schemes to handle pendency and delays," he said.

He state that,"It also brings with itself inherent checks and balances so that our judicial officers can execute the scheme for reduction of delay and pendency in a time-bound manner and be accountable for their work. This will not only help us in addressing the singular issue of delay and pendency but will enable us to set standards for judicial discipline as well as timely disposal of allocated cases".

While praising the SC E-Committee's role in computerisation of trial courts across the Nation, CJI Dipak Misra remarked that HC CJs and SC Judges seriously debated exploring possibility of utilising court managers, who could help bunching of cases involving similar questions of law and help the judiciary in their early disposal.

CJI gave a word of advice for Lok Adalats and court-initiated settlements between litigants.

He directed that when the litigants appear amenable to a settlement, the presiding officer of Lok Adalat or court must not impose its view while mediating between the parties. "Be enthusiastic but never be obsessed. Perseverance and enthusiasm are to be distinguished from obsession with an idea," he said.

Source PTI

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