Imphal, April 30: Chief Justice of India, YK Sabharwal, while emphasizing on the nobility of the legal profession, has appealed to the bar members not to treat it as a business or any other money making occupation.

Justice Sabharwal, who laid the foundation stone of the High Court complex at Mantripukhri here today, while terming the Court as the temple of justice where divine functions are held, appealed to both the bar and bench members to ensure a congenial atmosphere in the Court.

The CJI who attended the foundation stone laying function as the chief guest said, " You do require a congenial atmosphere for conducting the divine functions".

Stating that during the past half century the Judiciary system has been dogged by a poor image, Sabharwal called upon all institutions to restore the sanctity and the high esteem of the Court.

The lawyers should extend their fullest cooperation to the Court to deliver impartial justice.

They should also be more humane while taking up the cases of poor clients.

"It would be more worthy to take the prayers of the poor as fees than the money paid by the rich clients", Sabharwal said.

On the delay of delivering justice in the country, the Chief Justice cited certain reasons and added that one of the primary reasons for the situation is because of the lack of number of Judges.

Such a vast country is having around only 13,000 Judges, he said adding that this might be due to lack to financial resources.

The opening up of the economy culminating in filing more and more litigations and lack of implementation of provisions of law are the other major factors, he said.

The coming up of the High Court complex and the new and systematic complexes of State Assembly and Secretariat would accelerate its functioning for the benefit of the citizens, he said and hoped that those "ill-guided" youths would join the mainstream.

He also announced that the Centre would provide laptops to every judicial officers of the country by July first week.

In his presidential speech Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said the Govt is determined to face anything to ensure completion of the High Court complex within the scheduled target of 24 months.

In the same complex also known as capitol project the new building of State Secretariat and Assembly building would also be constructed, he added.

Unauthorized encroachers will not be allowed to interfere in the construction but the Government would pay specific compensation to those persons whose land are genuinely affected, Ibobi said.

The High Court complex will have seven Court rooms, administrative and establishment sections, office of the bar association, and the official residence of the Judges and the Court officer Ibobi said adding that a renowned firm has already been entrusted by the State to construct it.

Supreme Court Judges HK Sema, PP Naolekar, Chief justice of Gauhati High Court B Sudershan Reddy among others also spoke at the occasion.

A number of high ranking officials also attended.

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