What Reforms do we need In Indian Judiciary?

Around 5 Crore of cases are pending in Indian Judiciary System. A fact which demonstrates why Indian Judiciary System needs major Amendments. Let alone the pending cases, there are many other areas wherein Indian Judiciary needs reforms.

The Constitution of India consists of three pillars: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The Indian judiciary is regarded as one of the most important foundations of these three because it is an independent entity. Well, being the topmost Institution, It's pretty much important that the system needs to be robust & vigorous.

India’s judicial structure consists of :

• The Supreme Court,

• The High Court,

• The District Court, or Special Tribunal.

To ensure Productivity, Clarity & lead India through positivity, The working of Indian Judiciary needs to be of the highest standard. However, it has turned out to be weak, ineffective, inefficient & sluggardly. 

What reforms do we need?

1) Clearance of Under Trial Cases

India has one of the highest numbers of under-trial prisoners, which are around 4.2 Lakhs. They await trials & can't be released on bails because of serious crime allegations or simply just because they are vulnerable. One of the major reforms needed in the Judiciary is clearance of such trials so as to reduce the burden of the innocent ones.

The case of Nambi Narayan, The Indian scientist at ISRO who was falsely accused & his bright career was ruined. In returned he was offered compensation which meant nothing and was never received. 

2) Faster Trials

Delay in Justice is the biggest drawback of the Indian Judiciary System. In India, Fast & Efficient court system must prevail in order to maximize the practical judgements. As we all know that Justice delayed is Justice denied, System needs to ensure that all the cases are solved at a nominal pace with appropriate justice. Acting decisively is the only option to ensure faster trials with effective judgements. 

3) Pending Cases

- Around 5 crore cases are pending in Indian courts, which puts around a big question mark on the efficiency of Indian Judiciary. Cases are filed out of ego, personal disputes creating unnecessary complications and setbacks for the courts. However, Both the public and Judiciary are responsible for the same. To clear the cases and manage workload of our Judges & Lawyers is very much needed.

4) Start with the bottom - Improving District Courts

- Most of the cases are filed and are pending in District courts. The most important reform which is the need of the hour is to improve the functioning of the district courts. Be it judges, lawyers, or filing cases by the general public, everything needs to be sorted out at the district court to clear the innumerable cases. The procedures should be flexible & simple so that the cases do not remain just on files and the justice is prevailed. 

5) Appointment of Judges & Lawyers(For Needy)

- There are vacant seats for the Judges at every level of our Judicial System. From 3 vacant seats of the Judges in Supreme court to around 5000+ Vacant seats of the Judges in District courts, All of this vacant seats increase the problems.

However, the appointment of Judges alone of vacant seats won't help, there should be increase in the number of Judges in our System which can bring about a significant transformation. Apart from that, there is a dire need to provide lawyers at every level of courts for the needy ones as they cannot afford the fees of top notch lawyers and suffer from injustice. 

6) Working Hours & Days

- Indian Judiciary has very less number of working hours. Being the largest democracy, the first and foremost duty of government is to ensure that justice gets delivered. But Indian Judges work only 25 hours in a week and around 220 days in a year. Excessive holidays and weekend holidays are adding up substantial amount of trauma to the general public. Increasing the working hours, managing the holidays with turns will ensure smooth and effective working of our Indian Judiciary. 

7) Other Reforms

- While India is leading digitally in the global market, our Judiciary still relies on all the paperwork, there should be an introduction of paperless work.

- Major Boost is needed in the infrastructure of our Indian Judiciary. 

- Indian Judiciary shockingly selects Judges on the basis of Caste, Religion. Also, Chief Justice and high positions are given on the basis of nepotism and not on the basis of merit & qualifications. 

- The one who is involved in False accusations must be awarded the same punishments as a guilty person.

- Special night batches can be introduced for speeding up the system. 

- High cost and inaccessibility should be eradicated so as to ensure equality. 

- Cases of corruption in the system have also been the reason for the reform in the judicial system.

- The Indian judicial system lacks detailed scenarios of financing courts and criteria of public prosecution.

Conclusion :-

After years of Independence, India is still struggling with Judiciary System & People aren't content with the same. Although We have progressed a lot, but there's scope of Major Reforms to make the existing system even better