Rectify shortage of Judges : Khaidem Mani to Centre
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 02 2023:
Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani has categorically stated that there are many pending cases at different Courts in Manipur due to shortages of Judges and other deficiency in the judiciary.
Addressing a press briefing at his Loklaobung residence today, Kh Mani continued that listing of 300-400 cases at Manipur High Court alone which has only three Judges daily is a major factor which impedes the hearing process.
Saying that the Manipur High Court must have one Chief Justice and four Judges, he said that there is no full fledged Chief Justice in Manipur at the moment.
MV Muralidaran is the acting Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, he added.
Saying that pendency of cases has become a common phenomenon, he appealed to the Central Government to fill the vacancy at the High Court and other judiciary establishments as soon as possible.
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Kh Mani went on to state that there is also shortage of District and Session Judges in Manipur.
Two retired employees have been re-engaged to make up for this vacancy, he added.
He went on to state that the available Judges are made to look after the affairs of two-three districts after the increase of districts in Manipur to 16 apart from being in charge of other Courts.
For example, the District and Session Judge of Imphal East also works as the Special Judge of Prevention of Corruption Act, POCSO, NIA and CBI, he said.
Posts of many Civil Judge Senior Division are vacant too, Kh Mani continued.
Saying that shortage of Judges greatly affects the functioning of the judiciary, Kh Mani maintained that the Civil Judge Senior Division of Imphal West also takes the responsibility of Imphal East.
He added that there is shortage of both manpower and infrastructure of the judiciary in Manipur.
It is necessary for the State to have an adequate number of Courts in Manipur, he said, adding that every district must have a District and Session Court.
The Senior Advocate also expressed desire for the State to establish Civil Judge and Magistrate Court in every district and recruit Chief Judicial Magistrate for every two-three districts.
He went on to claim that the proceedings of the Revenue Court in Manipur is not satisfying.
Further stating that shortage of Public Prosecutor and Assistant Prosecutor hinders the proceedings of a case, he suggested the Government to engage Advocates as a Public Prosecutor and Assistant Prosecutor.