Bar needs to work with Government, legal services authority: Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi

GUWAHATI: Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi on Sunday said, "In the justice delivery system the three main stakeholders- Judiciary, Bar and the Government - have collective responsibility to ensure quick disposal of cases. It is high time that all the three come together to address the issue of speedy disposal and reduction in pendency."

Speaking at the valedictory programme of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at ITA Centre of Performing Arts here, the Governor said that the speedy disposal of cases would help the poor citizens to enjoy justice fast while keeping the cost of litigation considerable low. He also said, "When we talk about the cost of litigation, it is not only the cost of engaging a lawyer and fees paid to the court. The cost of litigation is much more than this. We have to take into account the time spent and the benefits forgone by the parties to the litigation which is much more than the cost paid to the lawyers and court fees."

The Governor also said that one of the very important objectives of the Government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to make India an international hub for arbitration. It can happen only when certain basic systems are put in place, like reducing time taken for deciding a dispute, certain modifications in the process adopted and the legal sanctity attached to the legal processes. The Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim being one of the biggest in the country should also share the responsibility of making India a hub of arbitration.

He also said that on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Bar Council, its stake holders should resolve to do some duties for the society as well. He said that since the legal awareness in our society is much to be desired, the Bar should join along with the Government and the Legal Services Authority to help the interested, needy and marginalized people in making them aware of their legal rights and legal processes.

Mukhi, however, congratulated the Bar on its role in protecting the dignity of the legal profession in the region. It is also taking several steps for the development of legal education along with promotion of professional ethics of its members in the State. The Bar is also looking after the members' welfare and invariably plays a strategic role in the lives and liberty of the people of this region where multiple customary laws exist, the Governor added.

It may be noted that on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee year and the programme that follows the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim has organized two seminars on two important topics - 'Role of Technology in legal sector in facilitation of Speedy Justice', and 'Challenges to the Rule of Law and Democracy in India'. He said that the deliberations by several renowned speakers from the Bar Council and legal fraternity in the seminars have immensely benefited the members from legal profession as well as the budding lawyers.

"I have been told that on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee celebration, the Bar Council has been taking steps for submission of online application for enrolment of advocates. This would immensely help the Bar to reach out to the far-flung areas of the hill States", the Governor observed.

The valedictory ceremony was attended among others by Gauhati High Court Justice N Kotiswar Singh, Minister of Law and Justice, Mizoram TJ Lalnuntluanga, Mayor of GMC Mrigen Sarania, senior advocate and Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of India S Prabhakaran, Chairman of the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim Gajanand Sahewalla, Vice Chairman Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim Abdul Hashem Khandekar along with advocates, law faculties, law students of different law colleges and other dignitaries.

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