STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Country’s judiciary guaranteeing justice with public trust intact has stood the test of time. One wonders, seeing beeline of Public Interest Litigations being filed, why burden judiciary with executive responsibilities, said S.S Bijral BJP State Spokesperson.
The former IGP, referring to PIL cases filed whereby court monitors departmental enquiries, investigation of cases, condition of roads and supervision of works thereon, working of State Pollution Control Board including Pollution Checking Centres status in Jammu, wondered how judiciary heavily stressed already for judges sanctioned vacancies, non implementation of Law Commission recommendations raising judges ratio per population and non availability of supporting infrastructure with huge pendency of around 3 crore cases, jails overflowing with undertrials and long delayed justice delivery amounting to justice denial, can take additionally responsibilities of ‘executive’ claiming doing justice to their own functions in a tripod governing set up of ‘Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary’?.
Referring to media reports: ” Cases of serious allegations closed, erring officers enjoying prime postings, nine Administrative Secretaries submit status of pending departmental enquiries reprimanded by State HC”, of February 24, 2016 ; “HC seeks appearance of Court Commissioners; HC has sought personal appearance of Court Commissioners appointed for inspection of condition of various roads and directed the authorities to report to the court about condition of the roads,” of February 26, 2017; “PIL highlighting poor working of State Pollution Control Board: DB rejects compliance report, appoints Advocate Commissioners,” “HC seeks technical report on Rajbagh bridge – as construction was out of plan,” “Non-fitment of Speed Governors major cause of accidents in J&K (despite the intervention of Supreme Court),” all three of July 29, 2017, Bijral said frustrated by executive inertia or unsatisfactory response, gullible souls knock doors of judiciary that honours their right, accepts PIL despite being stressed own self.
Emphasising, healthy governance demands that three wings of governance work efficiently, with accountability, augmenting each other, Bijral pondered how were the very three wings more powerful and effective before advent of PILs’ era? Rather than managing, as appears to be now, he said, situation cries for lasting solution when all perform, with dedication and commitment.
The state spokesperson referred to call of State Governor N.N Vohra on August 2, 2017 during his interaction with heads of various institutions underscoring need for government machinery to deliver in an efficient manner as it was the fundamental duty of the government.