Women judges should increase: Balakrishnan

Shimla, March 13 : Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan Saturday said women's representation in the judiciary was at the minimum and "needs to be enhanced".

"Women's representation in the courts is minimum and their representation needs to be enhanced. Steps are being taken to appoint more and more women judges," he said, addressing the inaugural session of year-long 40th anniversary celebrations of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

Balakrishnan asked the jurists to take a lead in inculcating social values in society by being sensitive to aspirations and expectations of the people.

"The legal judgements should have a social impact to improve the lot of the poor, downtrodden and the common man. The judges should take lead in inculcating social values in society by being sensitive to aspirations and expectations of the common man," Balakrishnan said.

"There has been a broad understanding on constitutional law and personal liberty in our judicial system. The complications with regard to the disputes of citizens should be taken note of by the judiciary, who should try to solve them in the larger interest," he said.

Earlier, Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Kurian Joseph said 53,000 cases are pending in the high court and a time-bound programme has been fixed for their disposal.

He said the state government has also assured that at least 10 gram nayalayas (village courts) would be set up by year-end.