AGARTALA, March 7 (TIWN): “In the state of Tripura people are still unaware about their legal rights and a large number of matters which should be coming to court are not brought to court,” High Court Chief Justice Deepak Gupta today expressing displeasure over it called for active steps to ensure that the situation is remedied. CJ also expressed disappointment over the issue of the existence of extra constitutional bodies who force the people to settle matters outside the court. HC CJ Deepak Gupta said, “There is no place for Kangaroo courts in our society.” A 2-day second annual conference of the judicial officers of Tripura was held today at Agartala High Court auditorium, with the judicial officers of the state attending the programme. The conference will continue till March 8. High Court Chief Justice Deepak Gupta alongwith other dignitaries remained present during the opening session of the programme today. Delivering speech HC Chief Justice Deepak Gupta today called for ensuring a conducive atmosphere at the court where the citizens can find the court friendly places, and they can go easily and have their grievances redressed in a simple and inexpensive fashion.

He said, “It has been often found that litigants and witness are not given the respect due to the members of the bar.” Gupta also called for a speedy and quick justice to the people of the state. He said at a time of establishment of the High Court, the pendency was about 6700 cases and now it has fallen to 4135. Besides, when the HC was established, the percentage of five year old cases was more than 30%. It had dropped to 6% in October, 2014, but has again risen to 10%, HC CJ Deepak Gupta said.

On the sideline of another issue, CJ Gupta said that the Agartala HC is one of the first HC in the country to start SMS based services whereby the litigants and the counsel are informed about the dates given in their cases by SMS. However this facility has now been extended to 57 courts out of the 64 courts in the state.

However during the programme today Justice S. Baidya, President of Tripura State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission P K Biswas, Chairman of Bar Council of Tripura K N Bhattacharjee along with other remained present at the HC auditorium hall.