He said the experience of Supreme Court (SC) tells that the courts can achieve the target once they seriously work toward that direction. "We brought down the volume of over 1,100 cases pending for more than five years to 500. It shows we can complete the task once we work hard after setting the objective," Sharma told lawmakers in the parliamentary special hearing committee, while enunciating his plans once he becomes chief justice. He also vowed to monitor the status of backlog cases every month. Sharma will take charge as chief justice from Sunday if the parliamentary panel confirms his nomination.
While explaining his priorities, Sharma said he will give top priority to ensure easy access of people to justice by simplifying the court procedures.
He said he wants to end the practice of date by introducing a system in which the case would proceed ahead even if the client misses the date.
Sharma also informed the lawmakers that work is underway to introduce online system so that the clients can be updated about their cases at home.
On corruption control in the courts, he said he will form a committee to study a report prepared by Nepal Bar Association. "I will give two months to the committee and I will move ahead as per the committee´s recommendations," he said.
On a query fielded by a lawmaker about allowing mediapersons in hearing, he said even camera persons could be permitted to record the visuals of the process in the cases of national importance. However, he said the court must respect the privacy of the clients in certain cases.
On judiciary system, he recommended that the Indian model would be the best in federal system where the courts function under the SC. "That will be better for our country," he said.
He also suggested adopting a system to produce paralegal manpower which would aware rural people on legal procedures to make justice seeking and delivery process more effective.
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