Inauguration of Newly Constructed Building for the Metropolitan Magistrates Courts and Fast Track Court at Magisterial Level for Trial of Cases Under N.I

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Inauguration of Newly Constructed Building for the Metropolitan Magistrates Courts and Fast Track Court at Magisterial Level for Trial of Cases under N.I. Act at Saidapet, Chennai 10th July, 2019 Hon’ble Dr. Justice Vineet Kothari, Judge, High Court of Madras and Portfolio Judge for Chennai District,

Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. Govindaraj, Judge, High Court of Madras and Portfolio Judge for Chennai District,

Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Manikumar and

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abdul Quddhose, Judges of the Madras High Court,

Mr. R. Selvakumar, Principal Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai,

Mr. K. Ravi, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai,

Mrs. R. Seethalakshmi, IAS, District Collector, Chennai,

Dr. A.K. Viswanathan, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Chennai,

Thiru. K.A. Rajasekharan, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (Building Construction Division-I), Dignitaries off the dais, Judicial Officers, Registrars and other officials of the High Court and Saidapet Metropolitan Magistrates Courts, Senior Advocates, Members of the Bar, Ladies and Gentlemen,

ANAIVARUKKUM MAALAI VANAKKAM !

I am happy to be here at the Inauguration of the new building for the Metropolitan Magistrate Courts, the Fast Track

Court at Magisterial Level-III and the newly constituted Fast

Track Court at Magisterial Level for Trial of Cases under the

Negotiable Instruments Act.

Presently, the Saidapet Metropolitan Magistrate Court

Complex houses the 4th, 9th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 22nd Metropolitan

Magistrate Courts and also a Fast Track Court at Magisterial

Level-III.

In addition to these courts, on the basis of the request of the Law Association, Saidapet, the High Court in consultation with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai sent a proposal to the Government of Tamil Nadu in the year 2015 for constitution of a Fast Track Court at Magisterial Level for exclusive trial of cases arising under the Negotiable Instruments

Act, 1981.

On 10.3.2017, the State Government issued orders constituting the said court and on 17.9.2018, issued the

Notification in this behalf.

All the above mentioned courts have hitherto been functioning in the existing Metropolitan Magistrates Court

Building at Saidapet, which is nearly a century year old heritage structure, having been established way back in the year 1921.

The building, which was originally intended for a limited number of courts, has over the years, had to bear the brunt of the litigation boom in recent years, which led to an increase in the number of courts in this very complex. As a result, the present building finds it nearly impossible to house so many courts in a cramped atmosphere, with virtually no breathing space and short of basic amenities, thus putting more and more strain on the heritage structure. Therefore, there was a long felt need for an additional building, so as to accommodate new courts and if need be, re-locate some existing courts to the new building.

In this behalf, the Saidapet Bar Association made a request to the High Court, and the High Court addressed the State

Government for sanction of funds to construct a new building. It was decided to demolish the existing building of the Legal

Services Committee, leaving the heritage structure untouched.

The proposed building was planned in such a way as to accommodate three court halls with connected offices, a

Lock-up Room for remand prisoners, offices of the Assistant

Public Prosecutor, Bar Association and Legal Aid, along with all other requisite amenities, in terms of the National Judicial

Infrastructure Plan.

Based on the High Court’s request, the State Government sanctioned a sum of Rs.635.80 lakhs for the said purpose. Thus, this beautiful new building with ground plus three floors has come up, which is being thrown open for use today.

Justice and Rule of Law are two of the noblest norms of a civilized society. They constitute the foundation and rationale of our judicial system. The primary responsibility for fulfilling and safeguarding them inevitably rests upon the Bench and the Bar.

Judges and lawyers have their own distinct roles to play. While an advocate's job is to persuade, a Judge's duty is to do right.

The roles of the two must combine to provide our people justice, in terms of our Constitutional mandate.

Courts of law are referred to as Temples of Justice, which is indeed what they are designed to be, but in the present day

4 scenario, we cannot simply wish away the ever-increasing delays and the expenditure, which a layman perceives as big hurdles while setting out to seek justice. At times, the fortune it costs and the time it takes to obtain relief, makes even the one who succeeds seem like a loser. This is an aspect which the

Bench and the Bar have to ponder over.

The High Court in co-ordination with the State Government is taking all efforts to put in place the infrastructure as is necessary at the subordinate judiciary level. Most of the courts in the State of Tamil Nadu have now got their own buildings, which is a welcome change from the past when most of the courts were functioning from private rented buildings. We must acknowledge the co-operation extended on behalf of the State

Government in this behalf.

It is now for the stakeholders concerned to take care of the interests of the litigant public. We must all realize that it is only when the litigant’s interests are served that we can be fully satisfied of having done our jobs in fulfilling the Constitutional obligation of administering justice to all.

I congratulate the Judicial Officers and the Members of the

Saidapet Bar for getting a new building with all requisite facilities. I am sure with better infrastructure in place, it would be much easier to pursue the noble cause of dispensing justice.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be present here on this occasion and share a few words with you.

NANDRI VANAKKAM.

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