By Aires Rodrigues
In Goa today, with a dysfunctional and politically manipulated executive, the judiciary has had to play a very crucial role in delivering justice to those burdened by faulty government decisions and legislations. In a way the Judiciary has had to take charge of Goa's governance to a large extent cracking on the illegal acts of those in power and authority. The steep rise in public interest litigations over the last few years suggests that people are ready to legally challenge the injustice meted out to them by the Government.
Politicians religiously visit holy shrines but intentionally commit the most unholy acts. A few years ago Supreme Court Judges, B.N.Agarwal and G.S.Singhvi slammed the government, saying that even God cannot save this country from such politicians. One could not blame the Judges for their exasperation. If politicians behave with some sanity and display clarity in their acts and deeds, the burden of the Judiciary to oversee governance would be eased to a large extent. Politicians more than any one else need to feel the wrath of God.
Judges cannot please everyone. Justice can sometimes taste unpleasant but has to be swallowed like a bitter pill. Justice is one of the few commodities that is not dished out and cannot be bargained for over the counter. Justice has to be dispensed with proper application of mind, cautiously yet speedily. We all have our own personalities and style of functioning but as along as the intent is to deliver justice, no judge can be faulted. Like all of us, judges are bound to err. Things become yet more difficult for a judge in those cases where the chances of both parties is almost even. It is a matter of fact that many cases come in this category and it makes the Judge's task all the more cumbersome.
Accepting the position of a judge is a very big challenge. One has to sacrifice one's personal liberty to a great extent. Family life takes a toll as socializing is restricted. While Politicians have bags loaded with money delivered to their home, Judges get bags loaded with files which they have to read through in the evening in preparation for the next day.
Justice has to be meted out at the grass roots. So it is very essential that persons with sound knowledge of law be selected for this noble job even at the entry level as Judicial Magistrate First Class. The selections of subordinate court judges have to be very meticulous as persons who cannot interpret the law only do damage to the justice delivery system. In times when money and muscle power is solely determining the heights our Politicians can reach, the task of theJudiciary becomes all the more pertinent, crucial and vital.
We have to hope that only persons with good knowledge of law and with a good insight to interpret and dispense it would want to take responsibility as Judges. This noble task may not be monetarily satisfying but it must definitely give one the mental satisfaction of having done a noble job. Nonetheless, the government should review the pecuniary benefits of the judicial officers so that the Judiciary attracts nothing less than the best and the brightest.
