Delhi HC CJ Brings In Scheme For Redressal Of Issues Facing The Bar And Bench Barring Complaints About Conduct Of Judges

BCD says it will improve understanding between the Bar and the Bench

The Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Rajendra Menon has put in place a scheme for the resolution of various issues—functional, procedural and logistical—facing the Bar and the Bench at the level of the district courts and at the high court.

The committee has been empowered to handle recommendations for the smooth functioning of the courts, to facilitate an amicable resolution of issues concerning the police. However, complaints against Judicial Officers will not come under its purview and will continue to be put up before the Inspection Judges Committee or the Vigilance Committee for members of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service and the Delhi Judicial Services, respectively.

The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) thanked Chief Justice Menon for accepting its demand for an in-house mechanism to resolve issues concerning the Bar and the Bench.

“Undisputedly, the Bar and the Bench share equal responsibilities as two wheels of a chariot and have to work in tandem. This will be achieved with the help of this in-house mechanism,” said BCD’s chairman advocate KC Mittal.

The committee for redressal of concerns of members of the Bar Association at the district level comprises chairperson, a convenor and three members.

The District & Sessions Judge of the concerned district will be the chairperson, the Administrative Civil Judge of the concerned district will be the convenor while the three members on the committee are—(i) President of the District Bar Association of that District (ii) Secretary of the District Bar Association and (iii) Nominee of the Bar Council of Delhi.

The committees at the high court to monitor redressal of concerns of members of the Bar Association at the district will have the chairperson of the particular district-level committee, the Registrar General of the High Court as the convenor and three members -- (i) Chairman, Bar Council of Delhi (ii) President of the concerned District Court Bar Association and (iii) President of the Coordination Committee of the District Bar Associations.

The committee constituted at the district level must amicably resolve the matters brought before it at the earliest opportunity.

If some issue remains unresolved, it would be referred to the committee at the high court for the particular district.

If even the high court committee is not able to resolve the issue(s) referred to it within six weeks of its receipt, the matter will be placed before the Chief Justice for consideration along with comments of the chairperson of the high court committee.

The Chief Justice has also put in place an apex committee at the high court for redressal of the concerns of members of the Delhi High Court Bar Association and smooth functioning of the high court. This committee comprises a chairperson who would be a judge of the high court nominated by Chief Justice, the registrar general as the convenor and three members – (i) Chairperson, Bar Council of Delhi (ii) President of the Delhi High Court Bar Association and (iii) the Secretary of the Delhi High Court Bar Association.

The Chief Justice, in an order, said, “During the course of functioning of the justice delivery system issues do crop up between the Bar and the Bench which need to be resolved at the earliest in a congenial atmosphere for smooth working of the court system….”

“The mechanism so visualised will not only provide a platform for addressing concerns raised by Members of the Bar, but will also serve as a vehicle to achieve the cherished constitutional goal of a robust and speedy justice dispensation system”.

Read the Order Here