“Forensic Science is Essential in Police Investigations; People Now Seek Lawyers Who Ensure Speedy Case Disposal”: Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad
Ranchi | May 09, 2026: During the Second National Lok Adalat (People's Court) held at the Ranchi Civil Court complex, Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad—Judge of the Jharkhand High Court and Executive Chairman of JHALSA (Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority)—made several significant observations regarding the justice delivery system, police investigations, and the expeditious disposal of pending cases. He stated that, in the current era, the role of forensic science in police investigations has become paramount, and investigating officers must conduct meticulous inquiries in every case, as courts require robust evidence to deliver verdicts.
He further remarked that if police investigations are not conducted in a scientific manner and based on technical evidence, delays in the disposal of cases within the courts are inevitable. Therefore, investigative agencies must place special emphasis on forensic analysis and the collection of evidence.
Advising advocates to adapt their working methods to suit the changing times, Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad noted that people now actively seek out lawyers who can ensure the swift resolution of their cases. He suggested that if advocates successfully dispose of even 10 percent of their pending cases, they will automatically begin to attract a 30 percent increase in new clientele. He emphasized that the Lok Adalat is not merely a platform for settling disputes, but rather a campaign aimed at strengthening the entire justice delivery system.
Describing Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) as the “backbone” of the justice system, he highlighted their crucial role in disseminating legal awareness across villages, towns, and remote regions. He also underscored the need to intensify the organization of legal awareness camps, seminars, and outreach programs.
The event was attended by a distinguished gathering including Judicial Commissioner Anil Kumar Mishra-I, Member Secretary Ranjana Asthana, Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri, SSP Rakesh Ranjan, Rural SP Gaurav Goswami, Principal Secretary of the Law Department Neeraj Kumar Srivastava, and District Bar Association President Shambhu Prasad Agarwal, along with General Secretary Sanjay Kumar Vidrohi. Also present were various judicial officers, advocates, mediators, bank officials, and representatives of the district administration. To ensure the successful organization of the National Lok Adalat, 40 benches were constituted for Judicial Magistrates and 20 for Executive Magistrates. A total of 47,397 pending cases and 832,365 pre-litigation cases were disposed of during the Lok Adalat. Additionally, settlements amounting to ₹1,36,99,52,446.21 were reached.
Furthermore, a total compensation amount of ₹20,06,40,672 was distributed among 36 victims of vehicle accidents. Meanwhile, under the Jharkhand Victim Compensation (Amendment) Scheme, 2019, financial assistance totaling ₹82,80,000 was provided to 24 victims.
On this occasion, a 'Didi Cafe', a statue of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, a Vulnerable Witness Deposition Center, a Protected Witness Room, and a QR code-based application system were also inaugurated within the Civil Court complex. During the event, a street play (Nukkad Natak) was performed on the theme of "Dayan-Bisahi" (witch-hunting), conveying a message of social awareness.
