No excuse for delay in justice: Hegde

BANGALORE: “The judge-population ratio is pathetic,  leading to delay in delivery of justice. But it is no reason to justify delay in justice,” former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde said on Saturday.Delivering keynote address at a symposium on Judicial Accountability organised by Indian Institute of Public Administration (Karnataka Regional Branch) and National Law School University of India, he said, “The judiciary has played a better role than the Executive and Legislature. However, there has been a decline in probity in judiciary due to falling standards in the BAR.” He added that lawyers and judges should settle internal matters within the legal framework, so as to be in a position to provide justice to the public. “Merit and integrity should be the criteria in the appointment of judges. This is not happening today. Quicker the change in the system, better the delivery of justice will be,” he said, adding that he had not lost hope.Governor H R Bhardwaj, , said, “The courts are divided, judiciary is fragmented and the Bar is also divided on issues. As people, we often look at the judiciary for help. So we need to strengthen it,” he said. He added that there was a need for a law that would keep judiciary away from such issues.  “It is the responsibility of lawyers and judges to frame a blueprint for such a law,” said the Governor.Former Governor T N Chaturvedi called the current system a ‘scratch-my-back-scratch-your-back’ system. He said, “Self-regulation are the only ways to bring about judicial accountability. It is necessary in almost every sector,” he said.