From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Aug 31: A comprehensive data bank on the performance of the country’s young lawyers is being developed to ensure availability of best talent in the appointment of judges, indicated Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Bangalore on Sunday.

He was delivering the 22nd annual convocation address of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), when 647 students were awarded degrees.

Sakshi of Bangalore bagged 10 gold medals for her all-round performance in LLB (Honours) course. She also secured first rank in the university.

The minister said the Centre was in the process of developing the data bank of young talented lawyers all over the country.

''We are now committed to developing a data bank of the performance of young lawyers so that the best talent is considered for appointment of judges,” he said,

The National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, which was passed by both Houses of parliament would mark the beginning of a new participatory process with increased transparency in the selection of judges, Prasad said.

However, he made it clear that the Modi Government was committed to maintaining judicial independence and predominance.

He called upon the new law graduates to have a heart for the poor and marginalized sections of the society. He prompted them to choose academia, litigation and legal research instead of joining a corporate law firm.

He warmly appreciated the active role played by the lawyers in the freedom struggle and asked students of law to pursue a career in politics and said the role played by lawyers in the freedom struggle should also be included as a subject in the curriculum of law colleges.

More Under-Trial Prisoners than Convicts

The Minister expressed concern with regard to the problem of large number of under-trial prisoners languishing in prisons across India.

It is a matter of shame that 66 per cent of the prison population consisted of under-trial prisoners, he said.

"There are more under-trial prisoners in jails as compared to actual convicts,” Prasad said.

The Minister said that law was amended to facilitate the release of prisoners who have served at least half the maximum period of imprisonment specified for that crime.

Filling up vacancies of Judicial officers, providing good infrastructure, use of information and communication technology in judicial system will not only ensure better delivery of justice but also bring in greater transparency.

Stating that the justice delivery system was weighed down with issues of pendency and backlog cases, he said major contributing factors for pendency was the inadequate number of judges coupled with infrastructure deficiencies.

As on December 2013, there were 4,382 vacancies in the posts of judicial officers and it was necessary to fill up the vacancies, he said.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has great potential to reduce the burden of courts and ensure disposal of case without resorting to litigation, he said.

On a positive note, Prasad said there has been an in principle approval to increase in the sanctioned strength of High Courts by 25 per cent.

Digitisation of Courts Underway

The High Courts have begun the process of sending in proposals for filling vacancies, he said.

Prasad, who also holds the Communications and IT portfolio, said the Ministry was focusing ondigitisation of courts and aimed at computerisation of 14,000 subordinate courts.

Chief Justice of India Rejendra Mal Lodha, who is chancellor of the NLSUI, conferred degrees to students.

The CJI presented four degrees to Dr P J Sudhakar, the Additional Director General of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, who has more than 100 degrees in various disciplinesto his credit.

Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra and Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande were the other chief guests.