Supreme Court of India
New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India has proposed a National Judicial Infrastructure Authority of India (NJIAI) for the arrangement of adequate infrastructure for courts. As per the proposal, there will be a governing body with the Chief Justice of India as Patron-in-Chief.
The other salient features in the proposal are that NJIAI will act as a Central body in laying down the road map for planning, creation, development, maintenance and management of functional infrastructure for the Indian Court System, besides, identical structures under all the High Courts.
“The proposal has been sent to the various State Government/UTs, as they constitute an important stakeholder, for their views on the contours of the proposal to enable taking a considered view on the matter,” Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju stated in a written reply in Rajya Sabha, today.
It may be mentioned that the primary responsibility for the development of infrastructure facilities for the judiciary rests with the State Governments. To augment the resources of the State Governments, the Union Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary by providing financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territories in the prescribed fund sharing pattern between the Centre and States. The Scheme is being implemented since 1993-94. It covers the construction of court buildings and residential accommodations for Judicial Officers of the District and the Subordinate Judiciary.
A sum of Rs. 8758.71 crore has been released under the Scheme so far since its inception, out of which Rs. 5314.40 crores (60.68%) has been released since 2014-15. The Scheme has been extended from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 9000 crore including Central share of Rs. 5307.00 crore. Besides the construction of Court Halls and Residential Quarters, the Scheme now also covers the construction of Lawyers’ Halls, Digital Computer Rooms and Toilet Complexes in the District and Subordinate Courts.
As per the information available, details of the number of cases pending in various courts are given below:-
It may be mentioned that subsequent to the deliberations held in the Conference of the Chief Ministers and Chief Justices in 2013 it was resolved that the total sanctioned strength of each High Court could be increased. Subsequently, the Judge strength of various High Courts was increased. At present, the sanctioned strength of Judges of High Courts has increased from 906 in 2014 to 1104 in 2022. There are still 387 vacancies there.
– global bihari bureau
