Dispensation of Justice

Dispensation of Justice is an attribute of GOD. It is a matter of PRIDE, DIGNITY AND HONOUR. Even GOD who has created the human being, does not sit in judgment over his deeds until the human’s death, when only he determines whether he deserves to be sent to hell or heaven. We have been given the authority to sit in the judgment over the deeds of a man in his lifetime. Our pen has the power to grant the freedom of living or the sentence of death to an accused. Our mighty pen can turn riches into rags and pauper into a millionaire.

We the judges thus represents a privileged class and vested with duties of great responsibility, holding offices of public trust. It is often said that our duty is a divine duty and work for it we must follow the CANONS OF JUDICIAL ETHICS. Number of times we have been told to follow the ethics in our work.

Everybody seating here has some fear in their mind about HIGH COURT. There are various sections in the High Court i.e. Judicial, Inspection, Legal, S.I.D. etc. Everybody has been connected with all these sections for the one reason or the other. Everybody present here have some aspirations, dreams in mind and performing duties to the best of the abilities to achieve them. During his routine work, every judge desires to bring some progressive development in his judicial career. But for the overall development, we must think seriously. I would like to mention some of the points helpful for the overall development of a Judicial Officer.

Like the S.I.D. section of our Hon’ble High Court, we must also maintain S.I.D. in ourselves. I referred S.I.D. that means SELF IMPOSED DISCIPLINE. Following are the basic requirements to have SELF IMPOSED DISCIPLINE.

1) To develop the habit of taking action regularly requires self-control.

2) In order to feel motivated to take regular actions you will need a sense of purpose and a clear vision.

3) Even thinking about what you do want and refusing to think about what you don't want requires self control.

4) Your personal growth, career growth and improvement in all areas of your life happen when you are willing to do something today and everyday. Lack of it in one area will affect other areas of your life.

5) Success comes after taking consistent efforts not once in a while but everyday.

6) You face many choices daily and you have control over your actions. But failing to do the right thing can lead to failure. And when the failures accumulate over time your life can turn disastrous.

7) Imposing self-control requires courage. You may have to leave a familiar ground because it involves change.

8) You would have to fight against your inner cravings, your emotions, compulsions and routines.

9) When you are determined to make your life a success you will create a plan of action each day. Success will show up from the many tiny efforts that you put in.

10) You have to maintain and stay focused until your vision becomes a reality. Otherwise the simplest task can seem challenging and you will eventually stop yourself.

11) So if you want something badly you must take continuous action to make it happen. Though the road may seem far and long you can take one step today.

12) When what you do does not work use that as a learning experience and further development. Look for a different way to do it. The number of different things you attempt will affect the results.

13) Persistence is important. Whatever it is that you desire to accomplish will take continuous efforts and time before you feel comfortable. If you keep doing something each day your ability to do it will improve.

14) So whether you like it or not, doing what you should do when you should do it is what discipline is all about.

SELF IMPOSED DISCIPLINE is based on two PRINCIPLES.

1) It requires continuous consciousness-alertness-awareness, staying fully awoke and alive at all times,

2) It requires putting yourself in a situation that will always demand upfront accountability.

This year doesn't have to end the same way as it did last year for us. Many of us wrote many beautiful well-thought out plans, but found them still tucked away in our journals, notebooks, or saved on our computers at the end of the year, revisiting them once more, asking ourselves the same old questions that we have asked ourselves year after year: Who are you accountable to in your life other than yourself ? Whom do you report to ? where did I go wrong ? What happened to me ? How did I get so far off track ? What's wrong with me that I can't stay on point and fulfill my dreams ?

There are 12 months. I want you to pause and think about that - "12 months." Can we stay consciously aware of our dream plans to make it to the finish line? Are we willing to be held accountable for our actions by deliberately seeking those who have already achieved what we want to achieve and allow them to guide us and mentor us through our dreams into a physical reality. Let us cross the finishing lines of greatness together this year.

During all this process to cross the finishing lines of greatness, don’t forget that we are human beings, having brain as well as heart. I quote one phrase here, “NEVER BECOME SO INTELLIGENT, NEVER BECOME SO HIGH, NEVER BECOME SO WISE, THAT SOME DAY NO ONE MAY BE ABLE TO SEE THE HUMAN IN YOU”. It is necessary that judges must remain humane and considerate. We have been vested with divine duties but we would never attain divinity. We are mere agents of the superior power that controls us to do justice between man and man.

We must also keep in mind, that we should not invite cases on ourselves, from our family members, as regards their maintenance and restitution of conjugal rights.

Now judiciary has provided laptop and net connection to each one of us. We must take the best use of this technology. We must not complained about good old home library. Now a days there are several free websites available on internet, and all the acts, precedents, articles, journals are just mouse click away. The world of internet is at its peak, its database, is much more than the human being can think.

Hon’ble Shri Justice R.C. Lahoti, Retired C.J.I. in his one of the speech THE CULTURE OF A JUDGE, has enumerated 10 lessons for us. I am reproducing it as below.

1) Maintain a Good Physique and Sound Health

2) Value the time

3) Simple Living

4) Choose your company cautiously

5) Read Literature

6) Continuing Education

7) Develop a Hobby

8) Be prompt

9) Respect and regard your court room as a TEMPLE OF JUSTICE

10) A Triple Mantra which is most important

(a) never say anything about anybody in his absence which if asked to repeat in his presence you will not do

(b) never condemn anyone by words spoken and by words written both at the same time

(c) discharging administrative or judicial functions, let the justice be never divorced from mercy.

If we follow the SELF IMPOSED DISCIPLINE and above 10 LESSONS then we can certainly bring change in our ATTITUDE in POSITIVE manner.

While summing up, I would like to recite one prayer, which is meant for us and everyone can begin our day with this prayer.

“OH GOD, GIVE ME COURAGE, TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN CHANGE

GRANT ME SERENITY, TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE

AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE”.