Gurugram, July 12 (IANS) Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, said on Sunday that the construction of judicial complexes equipped with state-of-the-art facilities is a clear reflection of the Haryana government’s sensitivity and commitment towards strengthening the justice delivery system.

Owing to the proactive support of the state government, judicial infrastructure in Haryana is being significantly strengthened, and judicial buildings such as the Tower of Justice will contribute to creating a more conducive environment for the administration of justice.

The Chief Justice of India was addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony of the Tower of Justice in Gurugram.

Justice Kant inaugurated the Tower of Justice judicial complex in the presence of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh, Justice Vikram Nath, Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi; Building Committee Chairman of Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Deepak Sibal and Justice Harpreet Singh Brar.

During the same programme, the Chief Justice also laid the foundation stone of the Tawadu and Punhana Judicial Complexes in Nuh district through virtual mode.

Justice Kant, Chief Minister Saini and other dignitaries honoured workers who contributed to the construction of the Tower of Justice by presenting them with momentoes.

Justice Kant said the occasion was especially significant for him. He recalled that in January 2017, while serving as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he had the privilege of performing the groundbreaking ceremony of this judicial complex.

He added that Gurugram, once known primarily for agriculture, has today emerged as a major hub of industry, innovation and investment.

More than half of the Fortune 500 companies have their regional offices in Gurugram, while more than 1,500 Indian companies and start-ups are operating in the city.

With the expansion of business and economic activities, disputes relating to property, technology, contracts and employment have also increased.

At present, Gurugram courts are dealing with more than 24,000 civil disputes, nearly 1,000 commercial disputes and more than one lakh cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act. These figures indicate the growing responsibility of the judicial system.

At such a time, the Tower of Justice is not merely a modern building but a means of making access to justice more effective.

He said the true significance of courts lies not in the grandeur of their buildings but in how effectively they reduce the distance between citizens and justice.

This complex symbolises that vision.

Justice Kant said the creation of additional courts will facilitate the hearing of more cases, accelerate the disposal of pending matters and significantly enhance judicial capacity, particularly in commercial disputes and cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

He added that the priority should always be to establish a judicial system that is both efficient and impartial.

While speed in justice is essential, it should never come at the cost of constitutional values.

Keeping modern requirements in mind, the complex has been equipped with facilities such as video conferencing and a well-organised judicial record room.

Another significant feature of the project is the proposed International Arbitration Centre, which will function under the supervision of the High Court.

He said the objective is to build a judiciary that is modern yet humane, technologically advanced yet firmly rooted in constitutional values, and sensitive enough to understand the human lives behind every case.

Chief Minister Saini added that the state-of-the-art Tower of Justice judicial complex in Gurugram is a powerful symbol of the dignity of the Constitution, the prestige of the judiciary and the unwavering faith of citizens in the justice delivery system.

He said along with economic progress, a speedy, accessible and transparent justice system is equally essential for building a Viksit Bharat.

The Chief Minister said that Gurugram today emerged as a leading centre of knowledge, technology, innovation, start-ups and global investment.

The establishment of a modern judicial complex in such a city will further strengthen and improve the justice delivery system.

He added that the foundation stone of this building was laid in 2017, and its inauguration on Sunday by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, is an inspiring and historic coincidence.

–IANS

vg/khz