In India, the Criminal Justice System (CJS) is a quadrilateral structure with four supporting pillars, each of which derives and, in turn, lends immense strength to the other. These are the police, prosecution, judiciary and the jails.The Madhava Menon Committee on Criminal Justice System was set up in May 2006 to draft a national policy paper on criminal justice system. The committee submitted its report on August 02, 2007, in which it has recommended setting up of a separate national-level authority to deal with crimes threatening the national security. The four-member committee led by former Director of the National Judicial Academy N R Madhava Menon submitted the report to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. In its report, the committee has expressed serious concern over crimes like terrorism, hijacking and drug peddling. Speaking to reporters, Menon said that “measures to tackle chemical and biological warfare and protection of country's assets in space and sea have been given importance in the report.”
Judicial Reforms involves much more than modernization of outdated practices of judicial administration or any structural transformations. Efforts for judicial reform will be continuously made to respond to future social changes. In this context, it is particularly important in planning a policy for institutional reform to have empirical data on how an institution works in what social conditions.
The current judicial system needs to be cleared of procedural complexities and hurdles to make it accessible for the common citizens. It must be strengthened to deliver justice quickly, efficiently and honestly.
Do these reforms in judiciary proposed, create political conflicts among competing groups (parties) and intrests and in turn shape the outcome of reform proposal? This is the matter of urgent concern for us.......it would be interesting to welcome some comments on the above possiblities especially considering or doubting the role of political parties (multi-party system in India) play in the judicial reform process and outcome......????
1 comment:
Committees have been giving recommendations all these years, but only the ones which give political mileage are implemented. Even the recommendations for setting up a national level authority is impossible in the current political set-up. If one ruling party proposes, the next party disposes, the best example being POTA.
Give them recommendations like more reservation, the parties will willingly implement even at the cost of dividing the society deeply, creating more inequality among the citizenry. I am astonished seeing the word "Equality" in our Preamble! The constitution has become a big joke!
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