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Deadline to settle court cases

Kashmir Times. Dated: 4/27/2017 2:07:55 PM

Dear Editor,
It is reported that -time limit is put in the case on Babri Majid i.e., within two years the final decision on Babri Masjid will come. As per press reports, there are more than three Crore cases pending in the courts. In the lower courts of Delhi, some of these cases date back to 1960-68. A deadline needs to be set to settle the cases as in case of Babri Masjid- as delayed justice is no justice.
There is a law of limitation for most actions in daily life. If the parties do not appear on three specified dates, the cases should be decided ex- parte; not more than three adjournments should be allowed for any case. This procedure can definitely be applied and made a rule, at least for civil cases. In criminal cases too, a time-frame for all procedures must be laid down under the appropriate Acts/ Rules.
Alternatively, many litigants prefer out-of-court settlement when they feel frustrated over the delay. But law process does not allow in many cases -in old cases of say more than three to five years -without any further dates for facts and witness etc. the cases must be decided on merits / facts on records only! In the process, the number of pending cases can be reduced drastically.
—Mahesh Kumar,
E-Mail: maheshkumar0909@gmail.com
B-49, Gulmohar New Delhi.