Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary for further five years
- The Government will provide well-equipped judicial infrastructure to subordinate judiciary to facilitate administration of justice in a manner that allows easy access and timely delivery of justice to all.
Key points:
- The continuation of the scheme will be from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026.
- Its total cost will be Rs.9000 crore, out of which Central share will be Rs.5357 crore including Rs.50 crore for the Gram Nyayalayas Scheme and their implementation in a Mission Mode through National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms.
Issues in judicial infrastructure:
- Several courts are still functioning in rented premises with insufficient space
- In some courts, there is dilapidated condition without basic amenities.
- Lack of residential accommodation to all the judicial officers.
- It adversely affects their working and performance.
- There are pendency and backlog of cases in Courts.
Implementation:
- Construction of 3800 court halls and 4000 residential units for Judicial Officers (JO) in all the District and Subordinate Courtsin all the District and Subordinate Courts with an expenditure of Rs.4500 crores.
- Construction of 1450 Lawyers’ Halls in all the District and Subordinate Courts with an expenditure of Rs.700 crore.
- Construction of 1450 toilet complex in all the District and Subordinate Courts with an expenditure of Rs.47 crore.
- Construction of 3800 Digital Computer Rooms in the District and Subordinate Courts with an expenditure of Rs.60 crore.
- Operationalisation of Gram Nyayalayas in implementing states with an expenditure of Rs.50 crore.
Monitoring :
- An on-line monitoring system has been set up by the Department of Justice enabling data collection on progress, completion of court halls and residential units under construction as well as better asset management.
- Department of Justice has developed an online monitoring system with technical assistance from ISRO.
- Regular State level meetings of the Monitoring Committee are held by various High Courts, States with State Chief Secretaries and PWD officials to enable speedy and good construction
- The Gram Nyayalaya Portal helps online monitoring of working of the Gram Nyayalayas by the implementing states.
- The funds will be released to the states only after the notified Gram Nyayalayas are operationalised and Nyayadhikaris have been appointed and reported on the Gram Nyayalaya portal of Department of Justice.
- A review will be undertaken after one year to assess whether Gram Nyayalaya Scheme has successfully achieved its objective of providing speedy and affordable justice to the rural marginalized.
Benefits from the Scheme:
- increase the availability of well-equipped Court Halls and Residential Accommodations for Judges / Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts all over the country.
- provide with better amenities enabling win-win situation for both the judiciary and the lawyers and also to ease of living of common man.
- Setting up of digital computer rooms will also improve digital capabilities.
- give impetus to the digitization initiation being pursued as a part of India’s Digital India vision.
- help in improving the overall functioning and performance of the Judiciary.
- Continued assistance to the Gram Nyayalayas will also give impetus to providing speedy, substantial and affordable justice to the common man at his door step.
- reduction of pendency and backlog of cases in Courts.