People resort to mob justice as they lost faith in law court, says Governor
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 15 2012:
As common man have lost faith in criminal justice system of the law court, people in the state have resorted to mob justice, said Governor of Manipur, Gurbachan Jagat today at the closing function of the year-long diamond jubilee celebration of All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) at Cheirap Court, Uripok here.
Speaking as Chief Guest of the valedictory function, the Governor said, "We are in a situation today where investigation levels of Police all over the country have gone down abysmally.
Standards of prosecution are even poorer" .
"The common man has almost lost faith in the criminal justice system and has started resorting to various unfair practices in order to achieve their objectives, that is, through corruption or extraneous influences.
We have reached a stage where local people even in Manipur have started destroying houses of suspects and lynching them even befroe the Police reaches the spot.
This is a matter of great concern and has to be taken up at all levels", he noted.
He further said, "The legal fraternity is not only to argue cases in court but it has a far bigger role.
The work of this fraternity begins with the introduction of Bills in Parliament, the debates in Parliament and outside the Parliament, the response of various civil societies to certain Acts being proposed or those which have already been passed and finally to actively engage themselves in these discussions in the forums that are available to them.
They are in the unique position of initiating such debates and dialogues and make suggestions to the State and Central governments through their elected representatives or through media or by directly meeting the concerned representatives of the government" .
In his presidential speech, President AMBA, A Indrakumar said that Manipur had its own law court under the Manipur Courts Act 1947 before the merger into Indian Union in 1949 .
During the period, the law court was a separate institution and it was not under the executive body.
However, after the merger with India, the former law court of Manipur was dissolved and came under the Gauhati High Court.
But today, Manipur will soon have its separate High Court after the amendment of North Eastern Reorganisation Act 1971 .
He said that Manipur has two District & Session Courts which are Manipur East and Manipur West.
It has also other sub-ordinate courts viz- Addl District & Session Judges Manipur East and West, Fast Track Courts Manipur East and West.
There are also Civil Judge (Senior Division) No 1 & 2 Manipur East and Civil Judge (Senior Division) Manipur West.
Now all the nine districts of Manipur have Chief Judicial Magistrate empowered as Civil Judges (Senior Division).
Besides, there are also Judicial Magistrate 1st Class in all districts with exception to Chandel and Tamenglong.
He further pointed out that there is acute shortage of judges, staff members and prosecutions in all the courts including Family Court and ND & PS Court.
Due to the shortage, the two fast track courts have been doing normal works and not passing any final judgments in civil cases and appeals in criminal cases.
Since Manipur would have its own High Court, it would requires to have a minimum of five judges for a High Court besides the Chief Justice, he said and added that the demand of AMBA is to appoint all the five judges from Manipur only.
PHED Minister I Hemochandra also attended the function as Guest of Honour.
Floral tributes were paid to deceased members of the association.
A Photo booklet of the association was also released as part of the Diamond Jubilee foundation.
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