Newly sworn-in Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva on Friday called upon lawyers to work together with the Bench to reduce pendency.
He urged lawyers to avoid frivolous litigation and also asked bar associations and Senior Advocates to train junior lawyers.
For judges to dispense quick and effective justice, it is important that the Bar also does its bit, CJ Sachdeva opined..
"A well-prepared advocate would avoid bringing frivolous litigation. Bar associations should train members. Seniors advocates must mentor and guide their junior they were guided by theirs. These youngsters are future. We must support them and train them for one day we will have to give the baton to them," he stated.
He acknowledged the tremendous pressure under which judicial officers work due to the high volume of pending cases and said that collective efforts would be made to find ways to reduce the pendency.
"All the 3 benches of this court comprise of immense jurist, judges with high thinking, professional to the core and the ones who believe in coordinated efforts to ensure that the litigants face disappointment in this temple of justice...They work under tremendous pressure due to the volume of cases pending before this court. Together we shall endeavour to find ways and means of reducing pendency. We shall endeavour to beat the filing. Even after truncated strength, we have achieved about 90% disposal," said CJ Sachdeva.
Justice Sachdeva has been appointed as the 29th Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Before this, he served as the acting Chief Justice following the retirement of office by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait.
During his oath-taking ceremony, Chief Justice Sachdeva stressed that harmony between the Bar and the Bench is vital for justice dispensation.
"Both the Bar and the bench should work together so that litigant who come to the court of justice with great hope goes home satisfied. The Bench is the product of the Bar. The judge comes from the Bar and it is just a transitory phase in our life. After demitting office we go to the bar."
He highlighted that not just judges but also advocates, registry staff and litigants face several challenges daily.
"There are several challenges that we all face on a daily basis. Every system comes with its own challenges. These challenges are faced not by judges, registry officers but also by advocates and litigants. There is nothing that is impossible. With a little change, impossible can become 'I am possible'. The block is only in the mindset. All crises can be ironed out. For that, we have to work shoulder to shoulder," he said.
Justice Sachdeva also lauded the tireless work of registry officers who often give up holidays to ensure timely listing and scrutiny of cases.
"Registry officers work tirelessly in dealing with vast volume of cases that are filed on a daily basis. The officers even sacrifice their holidays to ensure that the cases are checked and listed at the earliest...For the concerns raised by the bar, every effort is made by court to address them. Members of the Bar have to realise that all changes take time to show results. Any step taken in the right earnest would definitely show results, but one has to be patient. Challenges cannot be addressed single-handedly. Equal effort is required from the bar for resolving the problems. My request to bar associations of high courts is please don't come forward just with issues. Give your suggestions also to tackle the problems."
[Watch oath taking ceremony]