Large funds for developing judicial infrastructure remain unspent
Pradeep Thakur, TNN | Jan 10, 2015
NEW DELHI: Judiciary and the state governments have failed to utilize up to 80% of funds allocated for the development of judicial infrastructure and new courtrooms in the last five years across the country. A large part of the funds meant for running of special morning and evening courts also reportedly remained unused.
Based on the 13th Finance Commission recommendation, the government had allocated Rs 5,000 crore for court infrastructure development. The law ministry had released at least Rs 1,775 crore in the last five years to state governments.
A latest law ministry assessment, however, reveals only Rs 867 crore has been used so far by states for creation of courtrooms and other judicial infrastructure for which utilization certificates have been received.
Sources said the government had allocated Rs 2,500 crore for running of special morning and evening special courts intended to bring down the pendency list. Surprisingly, the judiciary could utilize only Rs 215 crore meant for this purpose, leaving more than Rs 2,000 crore unspent.
Most of the high courts failed to avail of the funds meant for running of special courts, including fast track courts, barring Gujarat which alone utilized Rs 113 crore of the total Rs 215 crore used under this category.
The higher judiciary had recently blamed the government for lack of courtrooms and infrastructure and low allocations by the government as reasons behind large-scale vacancies in the subordinate judiciary and high courts.
The 13th Finance Commission grant period is coming to an end with the recommendations of the new finance commission awaited. But, irrespective of utilization of funds from previous grants, the government has sought additional allocation of Rs 9,500 crore for development of court infrastructure and setting up of fast track courts.
With the huge allocation sought under the 14th Finance Commission, in addition to the unspent funds from the previous grants, the government proposes to create several hundreds of fast track and family courts, besides providing allocation for creating litigant- friendly facilities such as development of waiting rooms, disabled-friendly infrastructure and witnesses rooms for vulnerable sections of the society.
The higher judiciary has not been able to fill up vacancies in subordinate courts and high courts despite the fact that pendency of cases has been to the tune of 3.2 crore. The pendency list of five-year and older cases are as high as 30%-40% in many of the high courts. The apex court had recently asked high courts to bring down pendency of cases older than five years.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Large-funds-for-developing-judicial-infrastructure-remain-unspent/articleshow/45830586.cms
NEW DELHI: Judiciary and the state governments have failed to utilize up to 80% of funds allocated for the development of judicial infrastructure and new courtrooms in the last five years across the country. A large part of the funds meant for running of special morning and evening courts also reportedly remained unused.
Based on the 13th Finance Commission recommendation, the government had allocated Rs 5,000 crore for court infrastructure development. The law ministry had released at least Rs 1,775 crore in the last five years to state governments.
A latest law ministry assessment, however, reveals only Rs 867 crore has been used so far by states for creation of courtrooms and other judicial infrastructure for which utilization certificates have been received.
Sources said the government had allocated Rs 2,500 crore for running of special morning and evening special courts intended to bring down the pendency list. Surprisingly, the judiciary could utilize only Rs 215 crore meant for this purpose, leaving more than Rs 2,000 crore unspent.
Most of the high courts failed to avail of the funds meant for running of special courts, including fast track courts, barring Gujarat which alone utilized Rs 113 crore of the total Rs 215 crore used under this category.
The higher judiciary had recently blamed the government for lack of courtrooms and infrastructure and low allocations by the government as reasons behind large-scale vacancies in the subordinate judiciary and high courts.
The 13th Finance Commission grant period is coming to an end with the recommendations of the new finance commission awaited. But, irrespective of utilization of funds from previous grants, the government has sought additional allocation of Rs 9,500 crore for development of court infrastructure and setting up of fast track courts.
With the huge allocation sought under the 14th Finance Commission, in addition to the unspent funds from the previous grants, the government proposes to create several hundreds of fast track and family courts, besides providing allocation for creating litigant- friendly facilities such as development of waiting rooms, disabled-friendly infrastructure and witnesses rooms for vulnerable sections of the society.
The higher judiciary has not been able to fill up vacancies in subordinate courts and high courts despite the fact that pendency of cases has been to the tune of 3.2 crore. The pendency list of five-year and older cases are as high as 30%-40% in many of the high courts. The apex court had recently asked high courts to bring down pendency of cases older than five years.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Large-funds-for-developing-judicial-infrastructure-remain-unspent/articleshow/45830586.cms
Labels: CJI does not improve judiciary infra, funds available to better justice delivery in india, funds unutilised by courts to improve justice
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