Judicial system must meet people’s expectations, says President
Legal Correspondent
President Prathiba Patil receiving the book, “The Judge Speaks,” from Justice A.R. Lakshmanan, Chairman of the Law Commission of India, at Rashtrapat Bhavan in New Delhi.
New Delhi: The judiciary “is one of the basic pillars of the Constitution and has played a crucial role in the development and evolution of our democracy,” said President Prathiba Patil.
This was her message on the book, “The Judge Speaks,” by Law Commission Chairman Justice A.R. Lakshmanan.
“As Justice Lakshmanan has commented, the confidence of the people in the legal system and in the justice delivery system is an essential pre-requisite for the very survival of democracy. Our judicial system must function in a manner that meets these expectations of the nation and its people,” the President said. She received a copy of the book at a function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
The speeches Justice Lakshmanan delivered during his tenure as Supreme Court judge and subsequently as Law Commission Chairman are published in the book. Salient features
Justice Lakshmanan, who was accompanied by his wife and members of the Commission, briefed the President on the book and apprised her of three other books (two in English and one in Tamil — ‘Varalatru Suvadugal’) he authored. He also briefed Ms. Patil on the salient features of the Commission’s reports on various issues relating to the justice delivery system.
In his message, Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan said: “The contents of the speeches range from philosophical insights into constitutionalism, justice and the rule of law to concrete suggestions pertaining to contemporary areas of legislation and adjudication such as intellectual property, regulation of cyberspace, economic offence, tax and property laws.”Crucial role
Justice Lakshmanan said: “The judiciary has played a crucial role in the development and evolution of society in general and in ensuring good governance by those holding the reins of power in particular. Perhaps, there can be no two views about the significance of the role expected of the judiciary, vis-À-vis, the goal and good governance in a free , society.”

The Hindu 7th Aug 2009