State-of-the-art judicial complexes reflection of Haryana's commitment towards justice delivery: CJI Surya Kant
Gurugram, July 12
Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, said on Sunday that the construction of judicial complexes equipped with state-of-the-art facilities is a clear reflection of the Haryana government's sensitivity and commitment towards strengthening the justice delivery system.
Owing to the proactive support of the state government, judicial infrastructure in Haryana is being significantly strengthened, and judicial buildings such as the Tower of Justice will contribute to creating a more conducive environment for the administration of justice.
The Chief Justice of India was addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony of the Tower of Justice in Gurugram.
Justice Kant inaugurated the Tower of Justice judicial complex in the presence of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh, Justice Vikram Nath, Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi; Building Committee Chairman of Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Deepak Sibal and Justice Harpreet Singh Brar.
During the same programme, the Chief Justice also laid the foundation stone of the Tawadu and Punhana Judicial Complexes in Nuh district through virtual mode.
Justice Kant, Chief Minister Saini and other dignitaries honoured workers who contributed to the construction of the Tower of Justice by presenting them with momentoes.
Justice Kant said the occasion was especially significant for him. He recalled that in January 2017, while serving as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he had the privilege of performing the groundbreaking ceremony of this judicial complex.
He added that Gurugram, once known primarily for agriculture, has today emerged as a major hub of industry, innovation and investment.
More than half of the Fortune 500 companies have their regional offices in Gurugram, while more than 1,500 Indian companies and start-ups are operating in the city.
With the expansion of business and economic activities, disputes relating to property, technology, contracts and employment have also increased.
At present, Gurugram courts are dealing with more than 24,000 civil disputes, nearly 1,000 commercial disputes and more than one lakh cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act. These figures indicate the growing responsibility of the judicial system.
At such a time, the Tower of Justice is not merely a modern building but a means of making access to justice more effective.
He said the true significance of courts lies not in the grandeur of their buildings but in how effectively they reduce the distance between citizens and justice.
This complex symbolises that vision.
Justice Kant said the creation of additional courts will facilitate the hearing of more cases, accelerate the disposal of pending matters and significantly enhance judicial capacity, particularly in commercial disputes and cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
He added that the priority should always be to establish a judicial system that is both efficient and impartial.
While speed in justice is essential, it should never come at the cost of constitutional values.
Keeping modern requirements in mind, the complex has been equipped with facilities such as video conferencing and a well-organised judicial record room.
Another significant feature of the project is the proposed International Arbitration Centre, which will function under the supervision of the High Court.
He said the objective is to build a judiciary that is modern yet humane, technologically advanced yet firmly rooted in constitutional values, and sensitive enough to understand the human lives behind every case.
Chief Minister Saini added that the state-of-the-art Tower of Justice judicial complex in Gurugram is a powerful symbol of the dignity of the Constitution, the prestige of the judiciary and the unwavering faith of citizens in the justice delivery system.
He said along with economic progress, a speedy, accessible and transparent justice system is equally essential for building a Viksit Bharat.
The Chief Minister said that Gurugram today emerged as a leading centre of knowledge, technology, innovation, start-ups and global investment.
The establishment of a modern judicial complex in such a city will further strengthen and improve the justice delivery system.
He added that the foundation stone of this building was laid in 2017, and its inauguration on Sunday by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, is an inspiring and historic coincidence.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive infrastructure but let's not forget the human element. Over 1.25 lakh pending cases just in Gurugram shows we need more than fancy buildings. Hope the International Arbitration Centre actually speeds things up, not just adds another layer of bureaucracy.
Justice Kant's words about "reducing distance between citizens and justice" really resonated with me. As someone who had to wait years for a property dispute verdict, I sincerely hope these facilities actually help clear the backlog. The emphasis on video conferencing is particularly timely given how much work has moved online post-pandemic.
One must appreciate the symbolism of inaugurating this while also laying foundation stones for judicial complexes in Nuh district. That's true inclusivity - modern infrastructure for metro cities and underserved areas simultaneously.
While the new complex looks impressive, I wonder if the state government is also focusing on judicial vacancies. What's the use of state-of-the-art buildings when we still have massive pendency due to shortage of judges? Infrastructure without manpower is like having a Ferrari without fuel.
As a lawyer practicing in Delhi NCR, I can confirm the Gurugram courts are overwhelmed. The 24,000 civil disputes and over 1 lakh NI Act cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Hope this new complex with 24/7 record room and conference facilities helps reduce the average case disposal time.
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