Addressing the 39th UP Judicial Officers’ Conference at Ravindralay auditorium here today, she asked the judiciary to pay attention to the cases of downtrodden and ensure speedy and impartial justice to them, as they could not move the higher courts in case justice is not meted out to them in the lower court. She said this would help her in building a society based on social justice.

Recalling her pre-poll promise to provide a society free of injustice, crime and fear, Mayawati said her government has sent all criminals behind bars. FIRs were being lodged for even petty crimes, she said adding even big and influential people were being booked. “We are the only government that has dared to take stern action against our own people and this was possible because I have given a free hand to the police. “As a result, two of my party leaders, one MLA and one MP, are in jail.”

Emphasising the role of the judiciary in checking crime rate, Mayawati said though justice is given on the basis of evidence, while giving their judgement, the judiciary should use their own conscience and should also keep the social conditions into consideration.

The issue of pending cases in courts was raised by all present on the occasion, with the members of the UP Judicial Services Association demanding more courts, more judges and more staff.