Bengaluru Oct 22 PTI Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said efforts are on for ensuring further integration of Indias armed forces and related establishments at all levels aimed at readying the countrys military forces for any circumstances in the future As you are aware we are taking the initiatives for further integration of our armed forces and Defence Ministry towards a logical end In the days to come as the follow up process integration will be ensured in the theatre and in all the levels below it Singh said Speaking at a conclave here he said it will be implemented from procurement to indigenisation to prioritising capability development training and logistic support which will make the armed forces more capable efficient and self-reliant The Defence Minister said taking these initiatives forward the government is making efforts to improve efficiency in security and defence sector related other support establishments this includes- corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board efforts to encourage exports in the defence sector encouraging private sector in defence research development and manufacturing and efforts for self-reliance in the defence sector The governments intention is to ready our armed forces to any circumstances and is moving in this direction with speed he said The Defence Minister was speaking after inaugurating the three-day Indian Air Force Conclave at Yelahanka Air Force Station here to commemorate 50-years of victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war which is being celebrated this year as Swarnim Vijay Varsh Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat Chief of the Air Staff CAS Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka among others were present at the event The theme of the conclave Congruence of the politico-military thoughts and goals Birth of a Nation is apt as we celebrate the Swarnim Vijay Varsh Singh said It was the synergy and cooperation between the tri-services and the government that led to success in the 1971 war The 1971 war and Indias victory in it is specialas the main intention behind it was humanity and protection of democracy he said adding that the politico-military synergy led to our success The congruence of our politico-military thought and actions led to the birth of a new nation Bangladesh in Asia ending injustice and atrocities he said terming the 14-day war as the glorious chapter of Indias military history which saw the largest surrender in the world after the second world war with more than 93000 Pakistani soldiers surrendering Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said the global security environment and its impact on Indias defence and security comprises numerous and seamlessly interconnected issues Indias national security landscape is stressed on account of contours of emerging security scenarios ranging from sub-conventional threats to a possible conflict of a two-and-half front dimension The need to address consequences of instability and volatility in part of the immediate and extended neighbourhood remains our key priority he said These challenges and threats in turn demand distinct command structures for the Indian armed forces which involve tri-services cooperation and capabilities he added Noting that as a developing nation Indias priorities and security challenges make it essential that it pursue policies that best suit its long term interests the CDS said militarily this has translated into building capabilities over long term with a greater thrust on indigenisation to counter the future threats as well as address the requirements to meet future aspirations Though these augur unique challenges yet we stand as a confident articulate and rising nation willing to claim a rightful place in the comity of nations he added PTI KSU RS BN BN

Bengaluru Sep 18 PTI Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Saturday said Indianisation of the countrys legal system is the need of the hour and it is crucial to make the justice delivery system more accessible and effective He said Courts need to be litigant-centric and the simplification of justice delivery should be the pressing concern Very often our justice delivery poses many barriers for the common people The working and the style of courts do not sit well with the complexities of India Our systems practice rules being colonial in origin it may not be best suited to the needs of the Indian population Justice Ramana said Speaking at an event organised here to pay tributes to late Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar he said the need of the hour is the Indianisation of our legal system When I say Indianisation I mean the need to adapt to the practical realities of our society and to localise our justice delivery systemFor example parties from a rural place fighting a family dispute are usually made to feel out of place in the court they do not understand arguments or pleadings which are mostly in English a language alien to them he added Further noting that these days judgments have become lengthy the Chief Justice said it further complicates the position of the litigants For parties to understand the implication of the judgment they are forced to spend more money Courts need to be litigant-centric as they are the ultimate beneficiaries The simplification of justice delivery should be our pressing concern It is crucial to make justice delivery more transparent accessible and effective he said Justice Ramana said procedural barriers often undermine access to justice A common man while approaching the court should not feel scared of judges and the courts he should be able to speak the truth It is the duty of lawyers and judges to create an environment which is comforting for litigants and other stakeholders he said We must not forget that the focal point of any justice system is the litigant the justice seeker he said adding that usage of alternative dispute mechanisms such as mediation and conciliation would go a long way in reducing the friction between parties and would save resources It also reduces the pendency and requirement of having lengthy arguments and judgments Remembering Justice Shantanagoudar who died on April 25 at a private hospital in Gurugram where he was admitted due to a lung infection at the age of 62 as an extraordinary judge the Chief Justice said these are the topics he used to discuss with him everyday Expressing deep gratitude to Shantanagoudars contribution to Indian Judiciary and the countrys jurisprudence and for his friendship the Chief Justice said in losing him the country has lost a common mans JudgeI have personally lost a most cherished friend and a valuable colleague Justice S Abdul Nazeer Justice A S Bopanna Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka Justice B V Nagarathna Acting Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Satish Chandra Sharma Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Law Minister J C Madhuswamy several present and former judges of Supreme Court and High Court office-bearers and members of Bar Council among others were present Late Justice Shantanagoudars family was also present at the event Recalling his long association with him since a young age Chief Minister Bommai said Shantanagoudar was a down to earth personality and called him a common mans judge He Shantanagoudar was a lively person he made everyone around him lively His simplicity warmth and connection with the roots were really outstanding he said Bommai also recalled that Shantanagoudar wanted to join politics and wanted to contest Lok Sabha polls and had held discussion with his father former Chief Minister the late S R Bommai in this regard His father advised him to continue with his legal profession as he saw a bright future for him in it Bommai said Recalling his long association Justice Nazeer said Shantanagoudar was called Shantamurthy Shantanagoudar and his intelligence and empathy were the guiding force behind his judgments Paying tributes Justice Bopanna said his achievements and good deeds will continue to inspire all of us Whie Justice Oka remembered Shantanagoudar as a judge who spoke his mind and someone who upheld individual liberty Justice B V Nagarathna said as a Judge he exhibited a great degree of compassion statesmanship and leadership He truly believed that justice delayed is justice denied Shantanagoudar was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on February 17 2017 He would have remained in office till May 5 2023 Born on May 5 1958 in Karnataka Shantanagoudar got himself enrolled as an advocate on September 5 1980 He was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court on May 12 2003 and became a permanent judge in the court in September 2004 Later Justice Shantanagoudar was transferred to the Kerala High Court where he assumed charge as the acting chief justice on August 1 2016 He became the chief justice of the Kerala High Court on September 22 2016 before being elevated as an apex court judge PTI KSU RS BN BN