The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

COURTS

UNDP, lawyers agree on roadmap
for speedier justice
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 29
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and an association of Supreme Court lawyers have formulated guidelines for advocates for improving the working of the judiciary in the country, burdened with more than 2.50 crore pending case.

The guidelines were formulated following the intensive deliberations by top jurists of the country and the UNDP representatives at a seminar on ‘Access to Justice’ held here recently, which was inaugurated by President Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The guidelines were based on the roadmap laid out by the UNDP and the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCARA) to chart out the future course of action to contribute in the government’s efforts to bring down the pendency of cases in different courts right up from the apex court to the court of sub-judges, according to SCARA president Pravin H Parikh.

Aimed at the speedy disposal of cases, the guidelines emphasised on promoting a practice of preparing a common statement of facts by the counsels of contesting parties as is being done in the USA to save court’s precious time wasted on such procedural requirements, he said.

The other guidelines included, making alternative dispute resolution systems functional, the formulation of representative committees of experts from various fields to give opinion on public interest litigations (PILs) for their early disposal, throw away frivolous PILs and give priority to cases relating to women, children and aged persons.

The legal services authorities in the states should form groups involving lawyers, social workers and others who could collect information and go into industrial and rural areas to extend legal aid to poor litigants.

Expressing serious concern over the growing number of pending cases in the courts, the UNDP and the SCARA’s study papers showed that over 2.07 crore cases were pending in lower courts, 35.50 lakh in high courts, 4.13 lakh in national, state and district consumer forums, 1.86 lakh in income tax appellant tribunals, 1.06 lakh in fast track courts.

Even the apex court, where judges’ vacancy was not allowed to remain for long, had 24,381 cases pending before it, the report said. The pendency of service matters before the Central Administrative Tribunals stood at 35,671. While the Allahabad High Court had the maximum number of over two lakh pending cases, the Sikkim High Court had only 122 cases pending, it said.

While Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra had more than 10 lakh cases pending in lower courts, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Rajasthan and Delhi had the arrears of more than five lakh cases, the report added.

CULTURE

ARTSCAPE
Haku Shah bags Visual Arts Gallery annual award
Tribune News Service

The Visual Arts Gallery at the India Habitat Centre here announced its second annual arts awards. The gallery had instituted these awards in 2001 to recognise and appreciate excellence and distinction in the field of creative arts. As befitting the awards, the announcement was made at a glittering function presided over by the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and a former Finance Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

The Best Artist Award 2002 went to Haku Shah for ‘Haman Hai Ishq’ with Best Artist Commendation 2002 going to O.V. Vijyan for his ‘A cartoonist Remembers’. Probir Purkayastha got the Best Photographer Award 2002 for his ‘Aksha, yours, mine will pass this way again’. David Giancatarina got the Best Photographers Commendation 2002 for his ‘Urban Landscapes’.

The Best Design/Applied Art Show Commendation went to Dudley College while the Best Curator Award 2002 was given to Grete and Tutrid Uldal for their exhibition titled ‘Chroma’. Alka Pande got the Best Curator Commendation 2002 for ‘Navarasa’. Gayatri Sinha was also given the Best Curator Commendation 2002 for her ‘Cinema Stills’.

An exhibition of toys and puppets is being held at Crafts Museum, Pragati Maidan.

The jury for the awards comprised Gap Aarsee, eminent artist, style guru Romi Chopra, MacArthur Foundation’s country coordinator Poonam Muthreja, well-known architect Pogy Menon and famous restaurateur Lalit Nirula. The chairman of the jury was Raj Liberhan, director, India Habitat Centre. The Visual Arts Gallery, which was established in August 2000 has now become a hub of activity boasting of having put up as many as 61 exhibitions. A non-profit centre, it is devoted to promoting and supporting contemporary art.

The craft of toys & puppets

The Crafts Museum at the Pragati Maidan here will come alive with a unique exhibition of the traditional crafts of the country. The theme of this particular exhibition, which will be inaugurated on Friday, is “Toys and Puppets”. The exhibition will be open for the public from May 31, Saturday, and will continue for a month. The visitors will have a rare opportunity of watching master craftsmen at work.

A roving artist who can make portraits of deities in minutes

Shripal Kashyap demonstrating his craft at a school in the Capital.

Using discarded items like pieces of glass, beads, plastic material and metals, he produces items of art. He does not take long to do it. For the 45-year-old artist from Meerut, Shripal Kashyap, art has been an obsession. Belonging to a poor family, he was unable to attend art classes. But this did not in anyway diminish his natural talent. Now, he goes from school to school on his bicycle carrying all that he needs with him. And much to the awe of those who watch him, he crafts beautiful pieces of art works, including portraits of deities within minutes.

For those who want to learn his skills, he is more than willing to devote his time gratis. He does not charge any thing nor does he take any money from schools. Whatever he earns from the sale of his artefacts, he uses it to maintain his family of five. “Life is a struggle. But then what can one do!” says this impoverished artist.

Son of a labourer, Shripal Kashyap first encountered this art form when he was in class six in his native Baraut. An artist had come to the school to demonstrate how he could mould mud and Plaster of Paris into things of exquisite beauty. Since his father could not afford to send him for lessons to the teacher, the boy started practising himself. Such was his devotion and talent that within a few months he was able to make portraits of deities.

As the years passed by, he managed to hone his skill to perfection. Many have been impressed by his skill and he shows letters of appreciation from bureaucrats, politicians and even some state ministers. But no one came forward to help him financially. Nor did he have the courage to ask.

Kashyap, who had recently come cycling to the Capital to teach his art to students of the deaf and dumb school here, confessed to the NCR Tribune that his ambition in life was to establish his own centre where he could impart his skills to all but particularly to the physically and mentally challenged children so that they could earn their livelihood and not remain dependent on others. Nalini Ranjan

An evening in honour of women

Magician Hare Karishna at a cultural function at Triveni Kala Mandir.

Bhavana Kala Mandir, a well-known cultural organisation of the Capital, recently organised a colorful evening at the Triveni Kala Mandir to honour women. In all, 20 women were awarded with Matri Shakti awards.

The highlight of the cultural evening was the magic show by famous magician Hare Krishna who kept the audience spell bound with his mind boggling tricks.

Among the audience were politicians, social workers and artists of the Capital. The event was compered by Pran Sharma, who is also the director of the Bhavana Kala Mandir. Nalini Ranjan

Retail outlet for devotees

A unique outlet, Shreejee Dham, specialising in worship material, was inaugurated in the Capital by the main priests of the famous Radha Gobind Temple, Rishikesh, and Shree Krishna Dham, Vrindavan on Deshbandhu Gupta Road here.

According to its director, Mukesh Arora, the Shringar gallery is one of its kind in the world, which offers exclusive dresses, crowns, headgear, bells, shells and necklaces for adorning the deities. It also has a vast range of idols of various gods and goddesses. The gallery boasts of providing quality religious material for all occasions under one roof. The products are specially crafted by traditional craftsmen exclusively for the gallery. Nalini Ranjan