Judiciary serving elite, Governor regrets

BANGALORE: “Judiciary is catering only to the elite in the society.The poor have no access to courts in the country,” Governor H R Bhardwaj regretted at a spiritual gathering organised by Indian Heritage Academy and Samashtee Foundation.Lamenting at the deteriorating state-of-affairs, Bhardwaj said that a radical change in the judiciary is needed.“A woman from UN pontificated to me the way judiciary functions here.They indeed cater only to those who can afford it.The poor, especially Dalits, are completely ignored,” he said.Reminiscing about his days as law minister, he said, “I initiated the start of rural courts.But now they are completely ignored.I have observed personally the kind of harassment poor people face in courts,” he said.“I even told this government to hire woman judges, but my call has not found listening ears,” the Governor stated.Bhardwaj also spoke about the need to resurrect Sanskrit on the occasion.“There is no sufficient work going on to bring Sanskrit back to fore,” the Governor said.