Judiciary facing crisis of credibility: CJI Thakur

Allahabad : Asserting that the judiciary as an institution is 'facing a crisis of credibility' which is a challenge from both within and outside, the Chief Justice of India, T.S. Thakur, on Sunday asked the judges to be conscientious of their duties.

"Judiciary as an institution is always under public gaze and has challenges not only from within but from outside also. The challenges from outside don't disturb us so much, we all face them well... what we need to look after and be aware are challenges from within, and when I talk about challenges from within, I refer to the crisis of credibility that we face in the country today," he said at a function to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding and establishment of the Allahabad High Court.

"The judges need to be conscientious in the discharge of their duties, punctuality, judicial rectitude and in their effort to do the best in what is the need of the hour," he added.

The Chief Justice of India further pointed out that, without the Bar, administration of the justice is impossible, and termed it as the 'mother of the bench'.

"While judges are doing their best and have to the satisfaction of the entire nation upheld the Constitution, protected the rights of the people, ensures that access to justice is a reality... I would like to also address the need for a similar commitment by the members of the bar, as we all know, that without the bar, administration of justice is not possible. The Bar is actually the mother of the bench," he said.

"If you have good judges, it is because of the Bar that you have," he added.

Chief Justice Thakur also said cases of people who are languishing in jail can be taken on priority and disposed of, but it is not possible without the cooperation of the Bar.

He also made a mention of the glorious history of the Allahabad High Court, saying it is a matter of great pride for him that Pandit Motilal Nehru, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru and Kailash Nath Katju, who have left indelible marks in history, belong to his home state of Jammu and Kashmir and practised law in the Allahabad High Court.

"Difficult times have been seen by this court. Difficult challenges have also been seen by this court, but judges have risen to the occasion. They have discharged their duties fearlessly ... but we cannot sleep or rejoice over the laurels of the past only, we have great challenges in future and we need to get ready to meet those challenges," he added.

He further said that he could assure the lawyers that if Bar cooperates, the judges will be ready to sit even on Saturdays to finish these old matters.