officials to implement orders of the court without delay, Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar said at a function organised by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Bar Association (MMBA) here on Wednesday.
The MMBA had organised the function to inaugurate the library annexe, the ‘i-library,’ the launch of the MMBA website and the release of MMBA members’ directory. The function coincided with the Madras High Court bench entering its 10th year of service. The court was inaugurated on July 24, 2004. “The High Court bench has been efficient in disposal of cases. The number of cases disposed of has increased from 15,177 in 2007 to 71,869 in 2012,” the judge said.
Expressing concern over the increasing number of contempt petitions filed in the High Court bench, the judge said, “Every day, we spend at least one hour to hear the contempt cases. The number of contempt cases filed has increased from 266 in 2005 to 994 in 2012. This year 782 contempt cases have been filed so far.”
The judge said government officials were lethargic in addressing the grievances of the public. “There is a government order which mandates the officials to address the grievances of the public within two months. Most of the officials do not follow this and the government is duty-bound to take note of it,” Justice Paul Vasanthakumar said.
He recalled the various landmark judgments delivered in the High Court bench in the nine years. The judge urged the advocates to refrain from boycotting the court proceedings.
The judge inaugurated the library annexe.
Justice S. Rajeswaran urged the members of the bar association to make use of the technological advancements. The judge inaugurated the ‘i-library’.
Isaac Mohanlal, MMBA president, said, “The High Court bench has been doing yeomen service from the time it was inaugurated. Access to justice became easy for the people in southern districts because of the establishment of the High Court bench here.”
Nisha Banu, president of the Woman Advocates Association, said that the High Court bench had helped the women advocates to grow in their career. “The respect, motivation and admiration from peers and the judges have made women don the robe with devotion. The growth of women advocates is purely due to the unbiased respect, pride and adulation of our male peers,” she said.
Justices S. Manikumar, A. Selvam, N. Kirubakaran, P. Devadass, P.R. Shivakumar and R. Karuppiah were present. Advocate Srinivasa Raghavan spoke on the facilities available in the ‘i-library.’ N. Krishnaveni, general secretary of MMBA, delivered the vote of thanks.
