In an effort to reduce the backlog of cases in the state’s courts, the Gujarat government has decided to spend around Rs1,100 crore on a massive expansion of the judicial infrastructure of the state.
In an effort to reduce the backlog of cases in the state’s courts, the Gujarat government has decided to spend around Rs1,100 crore on a massive expansion of the judicial infrastructure of the state.
The government hopes that more and better equipped courts will speed up disposal of cases. As a result, by 2010 (the golden jubilee year of Gujarat), the state’s courts will be in a position to dispose of cases within one year of their coming up for hearing.
Highly placed sources in the Gujarat government said that the government intends to take a number of steps to improve the justice delivery system. “No improvement can take place unless the number of pending cases in the state’s courts is reduced,” a source said.
“The number of cases awaiting disposal was more than 24 lakh in 2007-08. This came down to 22 lakh in 2008-09, largely because of the evening courts, Lok Adalats, fast-track courts, Nari Adalats and, of course, the computerisation of records.” The source, however, added that the backlog of cases had to be reduced further if, by 2010, the state’s courts were to be able to dispose of a case within one year.
Another source said that various plans for development of judicial infrastructure in the state were under consideration under the guidance of the Gujarat high court. “The high court building will be expanded,” the other source said. “Further, 165 new courts and 29 labour and industrial courts would be established. The government also plans to build new charity commissioner’s offices, 83 new court buildings at the district and taluka level, 5 labour and industrial courts, and to purchase new equipment for the courts. It will also build new residential quarters, expand and make alterations in the existing courts and quarters, and undertake a complete computerisation of the state’s courts.”
The source said that the entire infrastructure development work will cost the government Rs1100 crore, which includes the Rs100 crore to be spent on the development of the campus of National Law University.
The state government, under the guidance of the Gujarat high court, is also planning new initiatives for the modernisation of the judicial process in the state. More facilities for video-conferencing and more mobile courts for speedy trials will be made available. Some work in this direction has already been started.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}