Bhopal, Mar 2: Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari has said that advocates should pay attention to the reform of professional standards apart from efforts to improve administration of justice. He said that litigants who come to seek justice have great faith in advocates. Honest efforts should be undertaken to maintain this trust posed by litigants. Justice Dharmadhikari expressed these views at a seminar on the subject 'Alternative Dispute Resolutions'. The Keynote speaker on the occasion was former justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court Justice Parvat Rao. District and Sessions Judge, Bhopal Ms Renu Sharma, Additional District and Sessions Judge Ramkumar Chaube and senior advocate Sevakram Sobhani were also present.

Justice Dharmadhikari said that it is necessary that those helping in meet out justice should be impartial and honest to their duty. Otherwise, people's faith in the judicial system might be by undermined which would not be beneficial for democracy in the country. He said that adopting alternative system for solving dispute is a good thing. Mediation, Conciliation and arbitration can be helpful in this connection. If all these methods fail, then litigation in court can be made as a last resort. He suggested that availing the services of retired senior judges in disposing of PILs at the district-level courts would be beneficial. Justice Dharmadhikari said that some laws have been enacted during the last couple of years which have given entire responsibility to the executive. Such laws including Juvenile Court Act, Family Counselling Centre, labour disputes and the Act for protection to old people etc have ended advocates' role. He said that a number of cases being put up before courts are of administrative nature. For the disposal of such cases, services of retired judges can be acquired. Justice Dharmadhikari said that Lok Adalat is a good system of disposing of disputes and cases.

Justice Parvat Rao said that lower courts have an important role to play in rapid disposal of cases. He informed that till 15 years ago only three to four percent cases could reach the trial courts in California, while most of the cases were settled through arbitration and conciliation. He pointed out that the government must take the help of alternative system for solving inter-department disputes. He said that judges' dexterity should be enhanced by giving them training of mediation at judicial academies. Conciliation system is also very effective in rapid disposal of disputes. In this system, the judge should undertake efforts to mentally prepare the litigating parties for a conciliation. He called upon the advocates not to exercise their profession only for earning money but for helping the people also. Therefore, they would have to change their professional attitude.

District and Session's Judge, Bhopal Ms Renu Sharma said that there is a great lack of infrastructure and judges at the courts. Advocates also do not take initiative for solving the cases quickly. But even then we would have to hammer out a solution in the present system. She informed that 114 cases were disposed of at the Lok Adalat yesterday. Advocates should act as the true legal friends of their clients. There is no justification in keeping the cases lingered even when they can be solved rapidly. Ms Sharma said that in Bhopal alone there are 110 retired judges whose services can be sought in some specific types of cases.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Ram Kumar Chaube said that our country lack administration of justice. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to take the help of mediation and arbitration in settling cases.

Senior Advocate Sewakram Sobhani said that advocates' cooperation is very important in administration of justice. Sobhani said that earlier the judges shortened the cases by taking the depositions of litigating parties and thus decided the points to be pondered in a case. But gradually this system has been shunned. This is the reason why cases keep pending in courts for a long time.

On this occasion, large number of serving and retired judges and senior advocates of Bhopal were also present.