Patna High Court judge and inspecting judge of Chhapra Civil Court Mihir Kumar Jha called for a joint effort by the law fraternity to fast track the system of imparting justice to the common man.

Speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Chhapra Bar Association, Justice Jha said the collective aim of the Bar and Bench should be to provide justice to the people.

He said: “We must keep in mind that we should provide justice to the common man. There must not be any delay in disposing of cases.”

He expressed concern over the load of pending cases in Bihar courts. “Are we losing our credibility,” he asked.

“Criminal and civil cases are pending for the past 40 years. What is the use of the system? If this kind of situation prevails, it would be like jungle raj. We must make the disposal system active. At least, 95 per cent of such cases have no relevance and we must dispose them. Remaining cases should also be disposed of amicably.”

Justice Jha praising the work of district and sessions judge Navniti Pandey and said efforts are on to dispose of cases that are pending for the past 25 years by June 2013.

He praised the Chhapra Bar Association and said its members are co-operative with the Bench.

Earlier, general secretary of Chhapra Bar Association Ravi Ranjan Prasad Singh gave Justice Jha a 25-point charter of demands.

The most important among them was the demand that advocates of lower courts also be designated as senior advocates, as is the practice in the high court.