(Rpting after correction in sixth para)

Judiciary may have ensured day-to- day hearings for delivering speedy justice in the Delhi gang-rape case, but a large number of cases remain pending at various levels, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said today. "In addition to protecting the rights of the citizens, judiciary also has the overwhelming responsibility of delivering speedy justice. This issue has been especially highlighted in the wake of the recent incident of a gruesome crime in a moving bus in Delhi," Kumar said. "The judiciary has risen to the occasion and commenced a day-to-day hearing in this case. But the issue of arrears of pending cases at various levels remains to be addressed," she added. The Speaker said she had been informed that IT-based solutions were being explored to track and monitor cases and the higher judiciary has been successfully computerised. "The electronic filing of cases before the Supreme Court has also begun. The option of establishing more fast track courts and special courts such as morning-evening courts, special magistrate courts and shift courts, can also be examined for disposal of cases especially those pending for over five years or so," she said. Kumar said this at the book launch of 'Justice, Judocracy and Democracy in India: Boundaries and Breaches' authored by television journalist Sudhanshu Ranjan. Indian judiciary had evolved in its role as the guardian of the interests of the poor and weak, but lack of resources and complicated procedures impeded many from approaching courts, the Speaker said. "We need to find potent means of providing legal aid to the marginalised groups to reassure them that the judicial system is indeed their guardian. "Free legal aid has opened the doors of justice to the poor and the needy. But we have to usher in an attitudinal change, bringing with it a sense of social responsibility, in our legal service authorities for rendering legal advice to the people," she said.