SC slams Delhi Govt over lack of funds for judicial infrastructure

New Delhi, December 12

The Supreme Court pulled up the Delhi Government for its half-hearted approach towards providing funds to the Delhi High Court and the district judiciary for the development of infrastructure.

“What is happening? What is your government doing? You don’t want to give any funds to the Delhi High Court? We need approval by Thursday,” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud told the Delhi HC counsel on Monday.

“It’s a model High Court and look at the condition… Judges are undergoing training and there are no courtrooms,” said the Bench, which also included Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra. It asked the Delhi High Court Chief Justice to convene a meeting on the issue.

“We find no reason or justification for the lackadaisical approach of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) in meeting the demands of the Delhi district judiciary. We accordingly direct the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court to convene a meeting tomorrow,” it said.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan told the Bench that prosecutors and judges were facing problems due to inadequate facilities in the HC.

The SC noted 813 judicial officers were functioning in the district judiciary in Delhi against a sanctioned strength of 887. Besides, there was a shortage of 118 courtrooms and residential quarters for judicial officers.