“Justice delayed is justice denied,” goes the saying—and in Margao, this adage is becoming a harsh reality. Nearly 60% of the trial courts in the Salcete taluka headquarters are non-functional simply because there are no judges to preside over them.
Margao hosts a total of 10 courts: four senior civil courts and six junior civil courts. Of the four senior courts, one remains shut due to the absence of a judge. The crisis is far worse among the junior civil courts, where only one out of six is operational, leaving five courts inactive.
This prolonged shortage has severely impacted the dispensation of justice in South Goa’s busiest taluka. The South Goa Advocates Association had raised the alarm back in March by petitioning the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. With no improvements in sight, the association has now resolved to approach the High Court with a writ petition demanding urgent appointments.
Association President Adv Prasad Naik highlighted the situation in Canacona, where the only judge is on maternity leave and not expected to return for several months. For urgent matters, case papers must be carried nearly 40 km to Margao, causing serious inconvenience to lawyers and litigants.
Naik said this crisis is unacceptable for a region considered the commercial capital of Goa and emphasized that immediate intervention is required to restore functioning courts and prevent further hardship.