CUTTACK: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday called upon the legal professionals to adopt best practices to keep pace with forces of globalisation and technological developments and ensure timely and cost-effective justice to the public. A great responsibility has been thrust upon the legal professionals to help people facing challenges of the new globalised environment by bringing in appropriate legal reforms. “When we hope to leverage global capital to create jobs for our citizens, we need to be in the forefront by creating a modern and quick justice delivery system. To ensure fairness to justice seekers and secure their rights, we have to adopt transparent and ethical practices,” the Chief Minister said at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Odisha State Bar Council here.Inaugurating the two-day event to mark the milestone, Justice Altamas Kabir of the Supreme Court stressed the great responsibility entrusted with the members of the Bar and the legal fraternity to protect and preserve the Constitution and enforce the Rule of Law. The Bar Council has to play the role of a watchdog of the judicial system. Referring to the huge pendency of cases in courts across the country, Justice Kabir, however, pointed out to the problem of lack of homework by the lawyers while appearing in cases. “Matters are not heard and are adjourned because lawyers do not come prepared or ready with briefs. This should be checked,” he said. Supreme Court Justice AK Patnaik emphasised the need to establish an Institute of Continuous Legal Education for practising lawyers. With globalisation and fast-paced technological and social changes, various new branches of law are coming up. Niche areas like telecom, building, arbitration, taxation, education and environment are opening up. Lawyers should keep themselves abreast of these emerging areas and this can be achieved through continuous knowledge update. The Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and the State Bar Council should sit together and finalise the location and parameters of such an institute, he said. He also called for bridging an unhealthy gap within the lawyers community __ who belong to the better-off section and those belonging to the bottom rung. Meritorious lawyers from the bottom rung are not able to compete with their well-off counterparts due to the former’s economic background. “We have to provide a level-playing ground for all sections by giving opportunities to all,” he stressed. Among others, Justice Dipak Mishra of Supreme Court, Former SC judge Justice AP Mishra, Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court V Gopalagowda, Bar Council of India Chairman Ashok Parija and Advocate General Ashok Mohanty spoke.
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