Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 5: “Village courts that cover two to three villages, have started functioning in a handful of states including Madhya Pradesh. It has been decided to widen the scope of this concept and open village courts all over the country. The lawyers will have a minimum role in the functioning of these courts. Even if they do, they may not be able to eke out a living out of their jobs there,” noted State Bar Council member, P P Hegde.

He was speaking at a function organized at the Advocates Day programme organized by the district Bar Association at the court complex here recently.

“As all the lawyers are busy with their own work, they have not been setting aside time to think about the lawyers’ community as a whole. No deliberations or thoughts appear to be going on about the future and relevance of their work in future. A thorough debate and discussion on corruptive practices that encompass the courts should also be held. Corruption level in lower courts is far lower as compared to High Courts and the Supreme Court,” he opined.

District and sessions judge, K B Chengappa, who inaugurated the programme, felt that faster disposal of cases would be possible, if a fixed number of days is allotted to every case. He suggested that the lawyers and the judiciary should sit together and deliberate upon the practicability of this suggestion. “Today is the birth anniversary of our country’s first President, Babu Rejendra Prasad. As he was a lawyer, the day is being celebrated as Advocates Day,” he said.

Presiding officer of the fast track court, S S Patil, was present. Bar Association president, C Vijay Hegde, presided.

Advocate, Vani V Rao, welcomed. Secretary of the Bar Association, Reynold Pravin Kumar, proposed vote of thanks. Ashok S B presented the programme.