India's legal system will give it edge over China: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan

MUMBAI: Both India and China were rising powers, but what could give India an advantage over the Middle Kingdom is our legal system, said Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan here today.

"In the future it is going to be India and China. The advantage our country has is its judiciary," Chavan said, speaking at a function to mark the beginning of sesquicentennial (150th year) celebrations of the Bombay High Court.

Echoing the view, Khurshid said, "Between China and India, people would prefer our legal system."

"The Bombay High Court, which commenced its work in 1862, is the best symbol of our commitment to judicial independence. There are still many more heights to be captured. The challenge of appointing more judges, (putting in) more infrastructure and (providing) faster and affordable justice is there," Khurshid said.

Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Mohit Shah, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court J N Patel and a few Supreme Court judges were present on this occasion.

Kapadia said that judicial overreach was a topic of debate and criticism even then (when the Bombay High Court came into existence), as it was now.