Despite our judiciary being among the best, the huge pendency of cases and protracted trial makes the delivery of justice difficult at times. This case could be the best example of the long-drawn trial running into years and years.
A city court has passed the decree in favour of one Gobind Ram, who was sacked as manager of an Amritsar-based private firm, after 34 years of trial. Civil judge Vikram passed the order after hearing the complaint. Reacting to the court’s order, Justice (Retd) R.S. Sodhi of the Delhi high court said, “It is a very unfortunate case where a petitioner has to wait for 34 years.”
While deciding the case in favour of Ram, who had stopped attending the court since 1996, the court observed, “The evidence in the case was over on July 4, 1985, thereafter revision against closing of evidence was dismissed on November 4, 1996. The suit was pending at the stage of final arguments. No advocate from either side appeared despite notices being sent. Therefore the findings will be given without hearing arguments.”
The judge awarded a compensation of `10,000 to Ram saying he had to wait for 34 years to get relief.
Mr Ram had alleged that Taneja Skins Co. Private Ltd. sacked him in 1975 after paying him salary only up to October 1974. He filed the suit in 1977 seeking recovery of `17,000 on account of salary, bonus and damages.
The firm had admitted that Ram was working in Amritsar but claimed that he had withdrawn various amounts from the company in excess of his salary.
The court dismissed the firm’s contentions saying that “from the documents of Ram and defendant (firm), so far as the relief for recovery and bonus is concerned, same is fairly proved in favour of Ram.”