Bar must introspect its role amid rising costs, delays: SC judge Nagarathna

Supreme Court judge B V Nagarathna on Saturday lamented that the legal system is bogged down by pendency, delays and rising costs, and asked the bar to change its mindset, rethink its role and speak in a singular voice to sustain the justice dispensation system.

Justice Nagarathna, who was speaking at the 13th convocation of National Law University at Delhi, stressed that when a bar council does not earn the respect of its members, it is not a good sign for the legal profession.

Bar councils must introspect on their role and importance in upholding professional ethics, morality and professional competence and it is time for members of the bar to introspect on their duties in seeking justice for the distressed litigant and for sustaining democracy in the country, she said.

"The lawyers of this country are the torchbearers of the values of our Constitution.

Any lapse or errors of the bar will have a deep impact on our political and civic life.

Hence, their importance in our society.