"Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied": Law Minister On Pending Court Cases

Praising Chief Justice Ramana, the Law Minister said: "The Chief Justice of India is doing exactly what needs to be done."

India's judicial system needs to give priority to common man, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said today at the Bar Council of India's felicitation event for Chief Justice NV Ramana while he stressed: "Justice delayed is justice denied". At the event, he also showered praise on Chief Justice Ramana, underlining that he will "create a new dawn for the judiciary". Mr Rijiju, 49, who took charge as the Law Minister in July after a huge cabinet reshuffle, today raised the issue of pending court cases in the country at the event. "People keep raising the issue of cases pending in courts. It's the lower courts where we need to look at with urgency. When a person of a humble background or from a rural area looks up to get justice, he gives it his all. Sometimes he even has to sell off his land and other assets," the Union Minister stressed. "Then if the justice gets delayed, it's a big question mark on all of us. Justice delayed is justice denied. The last-mile-man...the common man needs to be given priority," he added "Law has often been seen as a rich man' profession. Slowly the situation is changing. Opportunities are opening up. Lakhs of people in India are unable to approach courts. Lack of money and time delays are a big challenge," Chief Justice Ramana said at the event. Praising Chief Justice Ramana, the Law Minister said: "The Chief Justice of India is doing exactly what needs to be done."