Panaji: The All India Lawyers’ Union on Saturday demanded an apology from chief minister Pramod Sawant over his statements alleging that a few advocates delay cases for personal gain.The union condemned the remarks, saying the chief minister has unfairly blamed the legal fraternity and ignored the real causes of delay in the justice delivery system.It said that the delays are often driven by administrative and institutional shortcomings, and not by advocates acting in bad faith. Advocate Shashank Narvekar pointed to the slow pace of filling vacant posts of judges and court staff, along with the growing pendency of cases, as key factors burdening courts.Narvekar added that lawyers are required to invest time and effort to follow established procedures and pursue matters through every necessary stage to reach a logical conclusion.Advocate Leona Barreto also criticised govt’s policy of imposing high stamp duty on sale deeds, arguing it adds pressure on litigants and contributes to disputes and documentation issues reaching courts.
