Judiciary To Interfere If Government Fails To Perform Duty: Chief Justice Of Jammu

Jammu: The Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar, on Sunday said the judiciary would have to intervene if the government fails to fulfil its responsibilities.

"Judiciary will have to intervene if the government fails to fulfil its responsibility," Justice Vasanthakumar said while speaking at the valedictory function of a state-level two-day workshop on 'Workers in unorganized sector, their aspirations, challenges and way forward' in Jammu.

He said to ease the load on existing courts, Jammu and Kashmir was asked to establish additional 38 mobile courts, but the state government did take any steps following which the Supreme Court had to intervene.

"Again the Supreme Court of India had to intervene and ask the government of Jammu and Kashmir to work towards the establishment of these mobile courts," he said.

He said people working in the unorganized sector contribute a major chunk to the economy but the government has been ignoring them.

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"Such workshops will be successful only when the people, the society at large, would come forward and work for the welfare of the workers of the unorganized sectors," he said.

He said it should start with the government officials who have employed such workers at their residences. "They should start treating their cooks, gardeners well, give them the rights and privileges they deserve only then change will be visible in the society," he said.

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Supreme Court Judge, Justice Fakkir Mohammad Ibrahim Kalifulla said, "We all should take a pledge to implement the resolutions adopted and advice given by speakers during the thought provoking workshop."

"The stakeholders should strive for ensuring implementation of laws meant for protection of rights and improvement of living standard of the working class," he said.

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Justice Anil R Dave, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) said, "Justice Department is performing its duties and the labourers need to come forward to take benefit of the laws meant for them."

Congratulating the J-K State Legal Services Authority (SALSA) on holding the workshop on the crucial issue, he said it was time to take the initiative forward to mitigate the suffering of the labour class which has a huge role in the growth and development of the country.

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"Workers are the most important factor and, if they are paid well and provided all facilities due to them, they will give their best," he said.

Noting that such workshops should act as a wakeup call for government institutions and private stakeholders, Justice Dave said there was a need to do something tangible on the issue of finding the best ways to address the grievances of the workers.