To strengthen the judiciary and its reach in Maharashtra, the state would have court complexes in all the 357 talukas.
MUMBAI: To strengthen the judiciary and its reach in Maharashtra, the state would have court complexes in all the 357 talukas.
"Maharashtra may be now the first state which has a blueprint ready to establish courts in every taluka of the state," Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Swatanter Kumar, said on Sunday.
Courts would be set up in 53 talukas this year, he said. Around 89 talukas in the state do not have court complexes.
The state has also sanctioned the High Court's proposal for creation of 350 new posts of judges in lower courts, Kumar said.
"In the first phase, 175 posts shall be added this financial year and the remaining 175 posts in the next financial year," he said.
Kumar was speaking at a function organised to open the Judge's Lounge-cum-Conference Room at the High Court Annexe building, which was earlier inaugurated by Chief Justice of India, K G Balakrishnan.
Kumar asked for an increase in the number of judges in the Bombay High Court from the current 64 to 75 despite a requirement of 186.
Highlighting the need for more judges across the country, Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan said that in developed countries there were more than 100 judges for a million people whereas India has 10 or 11.
"We need more funds to deal with large arrears (pending cases)," he said. The CJI pointed out towards the British system where four per cent of the budget icated for the judiciary.
He commended fast disposal of cases not only by the Mumbai and Aurangabad benches of the High Court, but also by the subordinate courts.
While the Aurangabad bench dealt with 1,471 cases with a disposal rate of 62 per cent, the Bombay bench dealt with 2,350 cases with a disposal rate of 57 per cent.
The subordinate courts have disposed 2, 09,818 cases till May 31.
There should be one court in each Indian taluka, Balakrishnan further stressed.
Balakrishnan said before legislation is made, its impact needs to be studied, failing which, lakhs of cases end up in the courts.
There is need to make use of technology to speed up the judicial process, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj said the Centre is committed to increase the number of judges in high courts considering a rise in cases.
"We are re-evaluating the value of justice. With increasing number of people approaching courts, we have to take care of the procedure in which justice is awarded," he said.
Speaking about judicial affairs in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that it is a progressive state, which provides enough budget for high court and lower courts.
Maharashtra has alloted Rs 28 crore for computerization in High Court, lower courts and taluka courts, he said.
"The government will take a lead in establishing courts in all talukas of the state," Deshmukh said.
"We will do everything to ensure that justice reaches the downtrodden," he added.
The new conference lounge would facilitate video conferencing with Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad besides tribal areas like Gadchiroli.
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