dna exclusive: Congress wants judicial reforms to be a part of manifesto

With stage set for general elections, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s team is burning midnight oil to take up issues which would portray him as a “matured” politician. Efforts are on to bring changes in the judicial system that if put in place can make delivery of justice truly meaningful. The hypothesis is based on core team’s thought that long delays in delivery of justice are being cleverly used by vested groups against the party.

Earlier this year, Rahul made headlines by tearing off a government ordinance on tainted politicians. According to sources in the core team of Rahul, Sam Pitroda — considered to be close to Rahul — who also serves as advisor to prime minister Manmohan Singh, has been asked to prepare a paper on judicial reforms in the country. It is expected that the UPA government will include the agenda of judicial reforms in its manifesto for the 2014 general elections.

In November this year, law minister, Kapil Sibal had also called a meeting on judicial reforms which was attended by deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Sam Pitroda.

There have been long pending reforms in the country’s legal system which includes overhaul of the legal education system, review of the litigation policy, promotion of alternate dispute resolution and the National Judicial Data Grid.

In June 2011, the Union cabinet had passed a National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, which sought to operationalise a number of plans to ensure expeditious and quality justice. The Centre had committed to spend Rs5,510 crore for the mission.