TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Government’s controversial move to start evening courts in the state is virtually on hold following outcry from the legal fraternity and the government exploring other measures to clear the backlog in the state.
Though the government notified the Goa Evening Court Rules, 2014 around a month ago, the ground reality remains unchanged till date in the courts across the state. Instead of starting evening courts, the government is now in the process of fill up the vacant posts of judges in the courts to clear the backlog of cases.
Apart from the legal fraternity, even judges, sources in the know said, were sceptical about the idea of evening courts. A judge from South Goa informed that evening courts are impractical and the solution lies in appointing additional judges to clear the backlog of cases. “Till date, Judges have not received any offer to head the evening courts. This indicates that the scheme is on hold”, the judge said.
When Herald asked deputy Chief Minister and Law Minister Francis D’Souza to throw light on the controversial notification constituting the evening courts, D’Souza said he has spoken to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court on the matter. “For the moment, the government has decided to fill up the vacant posts of judges. This will certainly help to clear the backlog of cases. Let us wait and see the scenario when the vacant posts of judges are filled up and then do a review of the evening courts”, D’Souza said.
