MARGAO
Justice Prakash D Naik of the Bombay High Court on Saturday said Judges should not get influenced by media reports, asserting judgments should be delivered based on evidence brought before the Court and not based on media statements.
“Media nowadays is involved so much in publicizing the offence committed by the particular person or giving its decision before the trial ends. Sometimes witnesses are interviewed by the media even before they go to the Court. However, a Judge’s verdict should only be based on facts brought on record by the prosecution in the Court”, said Justice Naik, while delivering the second guest lecture at GRK-Judiciary Talks, a programme hosted by Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law, Margao.
Speaking on the topic of Aspects of Criminal Law, Justice Prakash said that a criminal lawyer should understand that people commit crimes for various reasons. “He should understand the finer intricacies of crime. Factors like poverty, psychology, economic reasons and bad company are some of the reasons for commission of crimes. Long incarceration of any accused person violates his fundamental right to life”, he said.
The Judge opined that if the system cannot ensure speedy trial, the courts should consider the request of the accused for bail. He cited an example where for a long period of about 12 years, an accused person was behind bars and the trial had still not concluded.
In his advice to the legal fraternity, the Judge said that lawyers should keep in mind professional ethics.
He said that there is a trend in some young lawyers to expect immediate money from the profession and cautioned that such young lawyers should take time to develop themselves and transform themselves into able lawyers.
“Lawyers should normally be submissive and not aggressive. As far as possible lawyers should not antagonize the Court, instead the lawyer should use his skill to convince the court”, he added.
The GRK-Judiciary Talks is a concept launched by the college where Judges of the High Court visit and interact with students.
Earlier, Adv Pritam Morais, First Vice President of Vidya Vikas Mandal, welcomed the gathering and Board Member Adv Prasad Naik introduced the guest. Officiating Principal Dr Maria Goretti Simoes e Morais proposed the vote of thanks. The programme was compered by Asst Prof Ms Akanksha Gehlaut.
