Press Clippings
Courtesy : The Hindu

Monday, April 24, 2006

Counselling centre opened at Family Court

CHENNAI: A psychology centre, counselling centre and children room were inaugurated on the Family Court premises here on Sunday.

Also unveiled were the portraits of two pioneering figures of the legal aid movement, the late Krishnasamy Reddy, former judge of the Madras High Court and former Executive Chairman of the Legal Aid Board, and the late M. Raja, secretary of the Board from 1977 to 1997.

While Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Judge, Supreme Court, launched the web site of the Madras High Court, another apex court judge Justice A.R. Lakshmanan launched the portal of the Legal Services Authority and a dedicated help line.

Mr. Justice Balakrishnan said naxalism did not set foot in Tamil Nadu because people strived for social justice and equality. "We have a legal system that is deeply rooted in natural justice."

He expressed satisfaction at the functioning of the Fast Track Courts in the country. "We cannot allow cases to lie in courts for years together."

Mr. Justice Lakshmanan said the Supreme Court decided to slash its summer recess by 10 days. After the summer vacation, the court would reopen on July 3 or 4, instead of the usual July 14. The court also decided to constitute five or six Benches to sit throughout the week during the summer recess. While urgent matters would be heard on Mondays, final hearing cases would be taken up on the other days, Mr. Justice Lakshmanan said.

Lawyers too had given consent to the arrangement. Lawyers and judges of the Madras High Court too might not be against such an arrangement.

Chief Justice A.P. Shah, stressing the importance of a psychology centre in the Family Court, said tempers ran high in matrimonial matters. The entire judicial system in the State would be networked and computerised soon.

While Justice M. Karpagavinayagam said Indian judiciary was "too technical, expensive and time-consuming," Justice P. Sathasivam called upon law students and teachers to spread legal literacy and human rights awareness. "Ignorance of law is the root cause of exploitation."

From 2001 to 2005, 170 legal literacy camps, covering 639 villages in Pondicherry, were held; they benefited 35,000 people.

S. Prabakaran, president, Madras High Court Advocates Association, said Lok Adalats provided an expeditious remedy to people. J. Rajendra Prasad of the Law Association expressed satisfaction at the pace at which requirements of the Bar were being fulfilled.

Additional Solicitor-General of South India V.T. Gopalan spoke.