NEW DELHI, Dec 2:

Chief Justice of India desig-nate Justice T S Thakur todaystressed on the need to fill upvacancies in courts across thecountry saying striking down ofthe recent constitutional amend-ment on judges appointment hasmade the selection task "muchmore difficult".

Referring to the 400 vacantpositions in high courts and manymore in district courts across thecountry as a major issue, Thakursaid, "To find 400 people worthyof being elevated to this positionis not an easy task."

"Chief justices and judges ofthe Supreme Court, while select-ing people for elevation, mustgo strictly by the beats of theirconscience rather than any con-sideration," he added.

Addressing the legal fraternityat a function organised to bidfarewell to outgoing CJI H LDattu, Thakur said judiciary facesits toughest challenges today aspeople feel it has claimed to itselfthe power to appoint judges buthas to come up to expectations ofthe people so that they do not feeldisappointed.

"This institution is facing itsgreatest challenge in recenttimes. Never before in our histo-

ry has the institution faced chal-lenges like the ones we are con-fronted with today.

"Striking down of the consti-tutional amendment that aimedat reforming the system has beencommented upon differently atdifferent stages. The fallout ofthe judgement is that it has madethe job of superior courts in thecountry much more onerous anddifficult," Justice Thakur, whowill take over as the 43rd ChiefJustice of India tomorrow, said.

"I think in times to come, oneof the challenges that we will haveis how to live up to the expecta-tions of the people in this countryin terms of making the process ofappointment of judges which hasalways attracted all types of criti-cisms on account of absence ofso-called transparency, so-calledabsence of objectivity and so on.We need to work together and findsolutions for it," he said.

Justice Thakur also wel-comed the suggestion thatdeserving members of theSupreme Court Bar Association(SCBA) could also be consid-ered for elevation as judges.

"There has been a longstanding demand from theSCBA that this association is areservoir of talent that can be

and ought to be drawn from inthe matter of appointment ofjudges for different courts. I feelit is a great idea. It ought to bepushed further," he said.

Praising the outgoing CJI forhis hard work and sincerity,Thakur said in his tenure, Dattuhas reduced the pendency ofcases from 64,000 to 58,000.

Justice Dattu, who thankedthe legal fraternity and his fami-ly for being by his side, said,"The judge even when free is notfully free."

"I feel immense confidentand positive with JusticeThakur's knowledge and I'msure our institution will thriveand become a stronger pillar ofdemocracy," he said.

Encouraging young profes-sionals, Dattu said, "It does notmatter if you have a godfather ornot, you can still reach heightsriding on the back if your abili-ties. Do not give up."

Attorney General MukulRohatgi too lauded Justice Dattufor bringing down the pendencyof cases during his tenure andfor setting up Social Justicebench saying it showed his"compassion, so that peopledon't think that Supreme Courtis for the rich and powerful."

Acknowledging that Indianjudiciary handles nearly fivecrore cases annually, out ofwhich two crore are disposed of,Thakur said these arrears neededto be cleared.(PTI)

Chennai turns island; road, rail, air links disrupted

CHENNAI, Dec 2:

Chennai today turned a virtual island and coastal areas of TamilNadu were marooned after unprecedented rains in 100 years poundedthe city, its suburbs and neighbouring districts destroying road and raillinks, shutting the airport and rendering thousands homeless.

Late tonight, the Airport Authority of India anounced that Chennaiairport will remain shut till December 6 in the wake of the batteringdownpour and predictions of more rains in the next 72 hours.

Chennai, which received 49 cm of rain and Chembarambakkam,where the reservoir surplussed about 25,000 cusecs of water intoAdyar river, received 47 cm of rains in the last 24 hours that floodedthe city and the suburbs, uprooting people from their homes.

Flood waters reached upto the second floor of the Housing Boardcolonies on the banks of Adyar river as people reached roof-tops look-ing for rescue and relief in several parts of the city and suburbs.

The death toll in the rains that have lashed the city and otherparts of State has gone up to 197, officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke to Chief Minister JJayalalithaa last night and promised all assistance, held discussionswith his cabinet colleagues Rajnath Singh (Home), Arun Jaitley(Finance) and M Venkaiah Naidu (Parliamentary Affairs) in themorning to take stock of the situation.

The National Crisis Management Committee headed byCabinet Secretary P K Sinha reviewed the situation and assured theState of all support from the Centre.

All modes of transport--air, road and rail services-- remained sus-pended due to the unprecedented deluge, leaving thousands of passen-gers stranded at the airport and various rail terminals.(PTI)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 (PAGE 14) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU

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Marooned people being shifted to safer places by rescue teamin Chennai on Wednesday.(UNI)

Selecting judges now tougher: CJI-designate

Courtesy: Shyam Lal Bhagat, PDP Leader

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to SH. VED PRAKASH MAHAJAN

on being nominated as General Secretary of PDP

Ved Prakash MahajanGeneral Secretary (PDP)