Write court verdicts in simple language: Prez

Kochi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday stressed the need to make high court judgements understandable to litigants in language they know and suggested setting up a mechanism to issue certified translated copies of verdicts by high courts in local or regional languages. He also advocated speedy disposal of cases as he said "the poorest and most underprivileged" in society are the sufferers of delayed justice.

Addressing the valedictory function of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the High Court of Kerala here, he said, "Delay in delivery of justice is a pressing concern in our country. Often those who suffer are among the poorest and most underprivileged in our society. We must find mechanisms to ensure quick disposal of cases."

"We could all consider an approach that makes adjournments the exception in an emergency situation rather than a tactic to prolong court proceedings. We must find a way forward," the President said. Kovind said that it was important not only to take justice to the people, but also to make it understandable to litigating parties in a language they know.

"High courts deliver judgements in English, but we are a country of diverse languages. The litigant may not be conversant with English and the finer points of the judgement may escape him or her. The litigating parties will, thus, be dependent on the lawyer or another person to translate the judgement. This can add to time and cost," he pointed out.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Mishra observed that a delay in disposal of cases diminishes the confidence of the citizen in the judicial process. He said that various committees of the Supreme Court as well as those of high courts are focused on the issue of pendency of cases.

"We have achieved success in this regard," Mishra said. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called upon the judiciary to "settle, decide and adjudicate" all those cases which are 10 years old or more.