Centre approves Rs 9000 crore for judicial infrastructure

Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 27

The Centre has approved Rs 9000 crore for the development of judicial infrastructure and allied facilities, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday.

 “I have taken note of the suggestions made yesterday by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India about the need for giving thrust on the judicial infrastructure. In this context, I would like to inform that the Government has already approved the continuation of the centrally sponsored scheme for development of infrastructural facilities for the judiciary at a cost of Rs 9000 crore rupees,” the Law Minister said in his address at the valedictory function of Constitution Day Celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan here.

Noting that various sections of society were concerned about the huge pendency of cases, Rijiju said judicial infrastructure was essential for the reduction of backlog of cases.

The government was sensitive to the needs of strengthening the judicial infrastructure and committed to investing maximum resources for developing next generation infrastructure, he added.

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana thanked the Law Minister for approving Rs 9,000 crore for development of judicial infrastructure even as he said the problem was not about funds but their under-utilisation.

The CJI reiterated his demand for a Special Purpose Vehicle in the form of Judicial Infrastructure Authority to ensure proper utilization of the funds meant for the judiciary.

”I thank the Hon’ble Law Minster for mentioning that the Government of India has granted around Rs 9000 crore for infrastructure. I request the Law Minister to create a special purpose vehicle. Yesterday, I mentioned the reason. Money is not the issue. Funds are not the issue. Ultimately the money or the functions sanctioned by the Government of India under the central scheme has to reach and it has to be spent,” Justice Ramana said.

He complained that some states were not contributing their share towards this purpose. “Unfortunately, some of the states are not giving their share of money as a contributing share. So, no infrastructure schemes are taking off. This is the reason why I am strongly advocating the creation of a National Judicial Infrastructure Corporation. I request once again, please consider this,” the CJI said.

 “I must acknowledge that the Union Government has been making reasonable budgetary allocation through its Centrally Sponsored Scheme for this purpose. But, due to non-availability of matching grants by some States, the budget allocated remains underutilized. I feel the situation calls for the creation of special purpose vehicles, namely National and State Judicial Infrastructure Authorities in the lines of NALSA and SLSAs”, the CJI had said on Friday.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.