Check rising cost of litigation, says PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called for joint efforts by the government, the judiciary and lawyers to check the rising cost of litigation.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday called for joint efforts by the government, the judiciary and lawyers to check the rising cost of litigation.

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"It has been said that justice delayed is justice denied. It is important that concerted cooperative efforts are made by the government, the judiciary and the bar association to deal with the mounting arrears in our courts and the growing cost of litigation," Manmohan Singh told a meeting in New Delhi.

The prime minister was addressing the Golden Jubilee National Conference of the Bar Association of India.

He said that equality before law cannot become a living reality if ordinary citizens cannot have access to justice at affordable cost.

"The plight of the large number of under trial prisoners in our jails should move the machinery of justice to speedy corrective measures as part of the process of reforming and improving the quality of governance in our country," he said.

The prime minister also urged the bar association to have fruitful discussions on "important subjects like funding of elections and law and education".