By IANS,
New Delhi: Noting with concern the “vast number of pending cases in Indian courts”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday said the elimination of “this scourge” was the highest priority and the apex court has a vital role to play in this “war on arrears”.
He also urged the Indian judiciary to work together as a “seamless web and indivisible whole” and assured that the government would “not hesitate to walk the extra mile at every opportunity”.
Speaking at the joint conference of chief ministers and chief justices in the capital, the prime minister said: “The elimination of vast number of pending cases in the Indian courts is the biggest challenge before the judiciary. Yet, amidst strengths, brilliance and dynamism, India has to suffer the scourge of the world’s largest backlog of cases and timelines which generate surprise globally and concern at home. The expeditious elimination of this scourge is the biggest challenge for such conferences and should constitute the highest priority for all of us.
“The mammoth number of pending cases cannot be allowed to disillusion or dishearten us. It has to spur us to even higher peaks of achievement and bring out the best from every stakeholder, acting in coordination to progressively overcome this great challenge,” he added.
Stressing on the fact that the apex court has a vital role to play in clearing the backlog, Manmohan Singh said: “In this war on arrears, the entire legal system and each rung of it has to function as a seamless web and an indivisible whole. Naturally, the apex court has to discharge a vital role. It has to be a catalyst, an organiser, a mentor, an umpire, a participant, and above all, a role model, all at the same time.”
Singh also assured that the government will always be with the side of the judiciary and said: “We will not hesitate to walk the extra mile at every opportunity.”