Tags: New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 25 Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan today said a "harsh decision" will have to be taken on increasing court fees in cases where hearing gets prolonged to dissuade delay in trial.

To buttress his point, Justice Balakrishnan cited the Singapore judicial system where, he said, people will have to pay hearing fees if it continues for over three days.

A day after the government proposed a "no adjournment" system for judiciary in its Vision Statement on reducing pendencies and delays in trials, the country's top judge made the remarks at a National Consultation for strengthening the judiciary towards reducing pendencies and delays.

He also said that unless the number of courts are increased, smooth functioning could not be expected.

"When 60 cases are posted on a day, he (judge) will be inclined to adjourn the case. He knows he cannot manage the court...the judges are under pressure, that is why the adjournments are easy for the lawyers," Balakrishnan said.

Referring to the "no adjournment" system mooted by Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on reducing pendencies and delays in courts, Balakrishnan said India needed 35,000 courts for smooth functioning.

Moily had yesterday presented the CJI with the Vision Statement.

"Adjournments repeatedly applied for and routinely granted are the curse of the Indian legal system," the document had said.

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