Reforming India’s District Courts
The Talk
Reforming India’s District Courts
The Talk
The district judiciary is the backbone of the Indian judicial system, dealing with the largest volume of cases. These courts are present in every district and are the first point of contact for most litigants seeking justice. From deciding cases of liberty in criminal matters to property and commercial disputes, district courts form the foundation of the Indian legal system.
Over the decades, however, India’s district courts have become increasingly dysfunctional, with trials taking years to conclude. Even simple remedies, such as bail, are being routinely denied. In their book “Tareekh Pe Justice: Reforms for India’s District Courts”, the authors go beyond the routine explanations of a resource crunch to offer alternative theories for delays at the district court level.
Prashant Reddy Thikkavarapu
Prashant Reddy Thikkavarapu studied law at the National Law School of India University and Stanford Law School. He has worked in law firms as well as in academia in India and Singapore, including stints at the National Academy for Legal Studies & Research, Hyderabad, and the School of Law, Singapore Management University. He is also the co-author of “Create, Copy, Disrupt: India’s Intellectual Property Dilemmas” (Oxford University Press) and “The Truth Pill: The Myth of Drug Regulation in India” (Simon & Schuster).
Chitrakshi Jain
Chitrakshi Jain studied law at the National Academy for Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) and completed her postgraduate studies in political science and law and governance at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. She has worked as a researcher in civil society organisations and think tanks on issues related to access to justice, the functioning of public institutions, and judicial reforms. She is currently working on issues related to regulatory governance and contract enforcement at the TrustBridge Rule of Law Foundation.