In the closing session, the President expressed grief and said that poor people are afraid to go to court.

In the closing session, the President expressed grief and said that poor people are afraid to go to court.

President Draupadi Murmu on Sunday expressed grief that poor people in villages are afraid to go to court and become a participant in the justice process only under great compulsion. She said, "Often they tolerate injustice silently, because they feel that fighting for justice can make their life more miserable. For them, going to court even once away from the village becomes a cause of great mental and financial pressure." In such a situation, many people cannot even imagine the pain that poor people suffer due to the culture of adjournment. The President said that every possible measure should be taken to change this situation. She was speaking at the closing session of the two-day National Conference of District Judiciary organized by the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi. She also unveiled the flag and emblem of the Supreme Court on the occasion.

President Murmu said that the number of pending cases and pendency of cases are major challenges before the judiciary and stressed the need to consider the serious issue of pending cases for more than 32 years. The President said that since its inception, the Supreme Court of India has made its invaluable contribution as a vigilant sentinel of the judicial system of the world's largest democracy. It is because of the Supreme Court that Indian jurisprudence enjoys a highly respected place. He appreciated the contribution of all present and former people associated with the Indian judiciary. He was happy to know that on completion of 75 years of its establishment, the Supreme Court has organized many programs, which have increased the faith and attachment of the people towards our judicial system. The President said that the feeling of faith and reverence towards justice has been a part of the tradition of India.

People consider every judge of the country as God. Every judge and judicial officer of our country has a moral obligation to respect Dharma, truth and justice. This moral obligation at the district level is the lighthouse of the judiciary. District level courts determine the image of the judiciary in the minds of crores of citizens. Therefore, providing justice to the people through the District Courts with sensitivity, promptness and at a low cost is the basis of the success of our judiciary. The President said that in recent years, there have been significant improvements in the infrastructure, facilities, training and availability of human resources of the judiciary at the district level. But, much remains to be done in all these areas. He was confident that rapid progress will continue on all dimensions of reform.

SHe emphasized that events like special Lok Adalat week should be organized more frequently. This will help in clearing the pendency of cases. All stakeholders have to find a solution to this problem on priority. He was happy to note that several aspects related to case management were discussed in one of the sessions of this conference. He expressed confidence that these discussions would yield practical results. The President said that the Indian Constitution provides for the power and responsibilities of the legislative and executive bodies at the local level through Panchayats and Municipalities. He asked whether the country could think of a justice system equivalent to these at the local level.

SHe said that making arrangements to provide justice in local language and local conditions can help in achieving the ideal of bringing justice to every person's doorstep. He said that when court verdicts come after a generation in heinous crimes like rape, the common man feels that the judicial process lacks sensitivity. He said that it is a sad aspect that in some cases, people with resources roam around fearlessly and openly even after committing crimes. People suffering from their crimes live in fear, as if those poor people have committed a crime. The President said that the children of women imprisoned in jail have their whole life ahead of them. Our priority should be to assess and improve the work being done for their health and education. He said that juvenile criminals are also in the early stages of their lives. Taking measures to improve their thinking and mental health, providing them useful skills for living and providing them free legal aid should also be a priority.