CJ given warm welcome at Madurai Bench

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had emerged as a vibrant centre of judicial activity, said Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava in his reply to the welcome given to him at High Court Bench here on Monday.

The Chief Justice was accorded a warm welcome at Madurai Bench.

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is not only an administrative extension of the Principal seat in Chennai. It is a conscious recognition that justice must travel to the people and not expect the people to travel long distances in pursuit of justice, he said.

The Chief Justice said the Madurai Bench had grown both in stature and substance. It had become a foundation of young legal talent and the infrastructural growth of the Bench was also remarkable, he added.

But, beyond physical infrastructure the true measure of growth lies in the confidence of the litigant public. The Bench and the Bar are equally accountable to uphold not only integrity, but also public trust. The challenge therefore is not simply to decide cases, but to see that justice is accessible, he said.

He said his commitment to the Bar and the Bench, as the Chief Justice of the historic High Court, was three guiding principles: accessibility, integrity and institutional harmony.

Additional Advocate General M. Ajmal Khan delivered the welcome address. Office-bearers of the Bar Associations welcomed the Chief Justice. The Administrative Judge of the Madurai Bench Justice Anita Sumanth, High Court judges, advocates and court staff were present.

This was his first visit to the Madurai Bench after his elevation as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. Following the welcome address at Court Hall 1, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice R. Poornima heard matters that included public interest litigation petitions, service matters and appeals.