Lok Sabha Question No. 248 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-02
Subject: Construction of Court Halls
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *248.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 2 nd August, 2017.

Construction of Court Halls

*248. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal for construction of 3000 more court halls to accomodate more judges and if so, the details in this regard;
- (b) the total numbers of court halls available in the country as on date;
- (c) whether the Government has directed the State Governments to implement this proposal speedily; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *248 FOR ANSWER ON 02 ND AUGUST, 2017.

(a) to (d) : The primary responsibility for development of infrastructural facilities for judiciary  in  the  States  including  construction  of  court  halls  rests  with  the  State Governments.    The  Central  Government  augments  the  resources  of  the  State Governments by releasing financial assistance under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)  for  the  development  of  infrastructure  facilities  for  Judiciary.    A  sum  of Rs.5,844 crore has so far been sanctioned to State Governments / UTs under the Scheme since its inception in the year 1993-94, out of which a sum of Rs.2,399 crore has been sanctioned since the year 2014-15.

As per information made available by High Courts as of December 31, 2016, there  were  17,338  court  halls  /  court  rooms  available  for  District  and  Subordinate Courts  in  the  country.    In  addition,  2,986  court  halls  /  court  rooms  were  under construction.  Comparing these figures with the working strength of 16,413 judges / judicial  officers  reported  by  High  Courts  as  of  December,  2016,  adequate  court rooms / court halls are available for the current strength of judicial manpower.  Focus is  now  to  match  the  availability  of  court  rooms  /  court  halls  with  the  sanctioned strength  of  judicial  officers  /  judges  in  District  and  Subordinate  Courts  which  is 22,288.

During the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers of States and Chief Justices of the High Courts held at New Delhi in April 2016, it was inter-alia resolved that with a view  to  (i)  identify  the  infrastructural  needs  of  the  State  Judiciary  by  developing suitable five year and annual action plans for the future; (ii) ensure the completion of under  construction  projects  pending  for  three  or  more  years  on  a  mission  mode basis;  and  (iii)  ensure  timely  completion  of  projects  for  the  construction  of  court complexes  and  residential accommodation, particularly for  Judges  in  the  District Judiciary; a Committee of three Judges be constituted in each High Court of which the  Chief  Secretary  and  the  Secretaries  of  the  Departments  of  Finance,  Public Works  and  Law  be  co-opted  as  Members  to  ensure  that  the  funds  are  properly utilised and also to closely monitor the timely completion of projects and to facilitate a  proper  coordination  between  the  officials  at  the  district  level  and  the  decisionmaking authorities of the State Government.

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