Lok Sabha Question No. 5197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-24
Subject: Infrastructure in Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Dhanush M Kumar, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5197

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 24 TH  JULY, 2019.

## Infrastructure in Courts

## 5197. DR. HEENA GAVIT:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE

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

- (a) whether the standard of infrastructure of courts in the country is very poor;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study to check the standard of
- infrastructure of the courts in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Union  Government  is  implementing  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the quantum of funds allocated for this scheme since its inception;
- (f)  the  number of residential accommodations that have been made available for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts under this scheme;
- and
- (g) the other steps taken by the Government to improve the basic infrastructure in courts all over the country?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS &

## INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (g): It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments to provide Judicial Infrastructure / Court Rooms for High Courts and District / Subordinate Courts.  The Union Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development  of  Infrastructure  Facilities  for  Judiciary  in  order  to  augment  the resources of State Governments, in association with the States / UT Governments. The scheme is being implemented since 1993-94.  It covers the construction of court halls  and  court  complexes  and  residential  accommodations  of  judicial  officers  of District  and  Subordinate  Judiciary.    As  on  date,  Rs.  6,986  crore  have  been sanctioned  since  the  inception  of  the  Scheme  in  1993-94.    Out  of  this,  Rs.  3,542 crore  (50.70%)  have  been  sanctioned  to  the  States  and  UTs  since  April,  2014. 19,179  court  halls  and  16,852  residential  accommodations  have  been  made available for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts under this scheme as  on  date  against  the  working  strength  of  17,971  Judicial  Officers  in  District  and Subordinate  Courts  of  the  country.    In  addition,  2,818  court  halls  and  1,856 residential units are under construction.

The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  for  Development  of  Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary was evaluated by third party.  The Evaluating Agency namely National Productivity Council, New Delhi, has concluded as under:

- 1)  The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  for  Development  of  Infrastructure Facilities  for  Judiciary  has  immensely  contributed  towards  improving  judicial infrastructure;
- 2)  It has helped in improving the quality of overall justice delivery system at the subordinate courts in the country; and
- 3)  It has also been also instrumental in reducing the pendency of cases and for the partial establishment of the elements of model courts and e-Courts at the District level.

The  Central  Government  has  also  been  administering  a  Central  Sector Scheme of eCourt Mission Mode Project (Phase-II), (2015-19) under which funds are made available to various organizations involved in the implementation of the project and High Courts with the aim for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enablement of district and subordinate courts, across the country in association with eCommittee of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.  So far, out of total outlay of Rs. 1,670 crore, the Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1,248 crore as on date to various organizations involved in the implementation of the project.  This includes a sum of Rs. 955.86 crore sanctioned to High Courts.  Number of computerised District and Subordinate courts in the country, by the end of first phase of eCourts Project (2014) increased from 13,672 to 16,845 registering an increase of 3,173.

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