High Court to shed the symbols of the British Empire; to increase working days

31^st November 2009, Kochi: The Kerala High Court has decided to do away with the practice of carrying silver maces, to hold regular sittings on all Saturdays except second Saturday and reduce the summer holidays to three days. The decisions were taken at the full court meeting convened by Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmat on October 28. The AG has assured that the services of the government pleaders would be available on all such working days. The Chief Justice had also decided to constitute a “Green Bench” in the High Court to deal exclusively with cases relating to forests, conservation of trees and other cases relating to biodiversity. The Green Bench would hold sitting on all Fridays from the upcoming December 4^th. The Full Court decided to reduce the summer vacation to three days. Sitting would be held on Saturdays except second Saturday. This is in the background of pending of a large number of cases (1,12,572 as on September 30, 2009). The decision to dispense with the practice of carrying silver maces would be implemented from November 1, 2009. That is the HC decided to shed the symbols of the British Empire. Through this decision the state can save a lot of money as each of the silver mace costs around Rs.34,000 (There are 33 judges in the Kerala High Court)

In a press release Subordinate Judiciary Registrar A V Ramakrishna Pillai had said the decisions were taken after holding discussions with the Judges, Advocate General, office-bearers of the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association and members of the staff. He also added that these steps for enhancing the quality of justice had been taken in view of the 54th birthday of the State which falls on November 1^st.