Margao: Madganvcho Awaaz has expressed serious concern over the judicial crisis unfolding in South Goa particularly in Margao where six out of ten trial courts are currently non functional due to the absence of appointed judges. This alarming situation has resulted in a near paralysis of the justice delivery system severely affecting thousands of litigants who continue to wait indefinitely for their matters to be heard stated Youth Leader Prabhav Naik.
In a letter addressed to Law Minister Aleixo Sequeira Prabhav Naik pointed out that of the ten trial courts catering to Salcete taluka four fall under the senior civil division and six under the junior civil division. Presently only one of the six junior civil judge courts is operational while one of the four senior civil courts also remains without a presiding officer. This acute shortage has led to a surge in case pendency frequent adjournments and immense inconvenience to both lawyers and the general public.
He further stated that Margao known as the commercial capital of Goa cannot afford to have its legal institutions in such a dysfunctional state. The inability to hear and dispose of cases in a timely manner not only violates the fundamental right to access justice but also signals deep administrative indifference to the growing backlog. Justice delayed is justice denied and Margao today is living through this grim reality said Naik.
The crisis he added is not limited to Margao alone. In Canacona Taluka the only presiding judge is currently on extended leave leading to urgent matters being redirected to Margao nearly 40 kilometers away. This has placed a heavy burden on litigants particularly from remote areas while further straining Margao’s already overloaded court system.
Despite repeated appeals from the legal fraternity and detailed representations submitted earlier this year there has been no significant improvement on the ground. Such continued inaction reflects poorly on the administration’s commitment to ensuring timely justice and upholding the rule of law said Naik. The judicial vacuum we are witnessing today is completely unacceptable in a democracy.
Madganvcho Awaaz and Youth Leader Prabhav Naik have demanded the urgent filling of all vacant judicial posts in Margao and other affected talukas. They have also called upon the government to establish a transparent and time bound process to ensure that such prolonged vacancies do not recur. Margao and its people deserve a fully functional court system nothing less Naik concluded.
