Lok Sabha Question No. 304 (STARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: Infrastructure of Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: DINESH TRIVEDI

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *304

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 02 ND  JANUARY, 2019.

## Infrastructure of Courts

- *304. SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study to check the standard of infrastructure of the courts in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the courts are Divyang friendly and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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.  *304  FOR  ANSWER  ON  02 ND JANUARY, 2019

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 this regard 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. 6,623 crore has been released since the inception of the Scheme in 199394.   Out of this,  Rs.  3,179  crore  (48%) has  been  released to the  States and  UTs since April, 2014.  18,731 court halls and 16,539 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 17,509 Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts of the country.  In addition, 2,906 court halls and 1,754 residential units are under construction.

Infrastructure Development for judiciary in the States is being monitored by the State level monitoring Committee headed by portfolio judge of the concerned High  Court  in  terms  of  the  directions  of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  All  India Judges Association Case.

The Scheme has been evaluated by third party.  The Evaluating Agency has concluded as under:

- i. The CSS has immensely contributed towards improving judicial infrastructure;
- ii. It has helped in improving the quality of overall justice delivery system at the subordinate courts in the country; and
- iii. 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  above  mentioned  scheme  covers  court  buildings  of  District  and Subordinate Courts which are able to be accessed by all categories of people in the society. However,  State Governments  ensure  construction of buildings is differently-abled friendly as per standard and mandatory norms.

The  Union  Cabinet  while  approving  continuation  of  the  above  scheme from  01.04.2017  to  31.03.2020, inter-alia, directed  formulation  of  norms  and specification of court halls and residential units to be constructed under Scheme for implementation throughout the  country  for  future.    In  pursuance,  Department  of Justice has formulated norms and specification of court halls and residential units to  be  constructed  under  Scheme  for  implementation  throughout  the  country  for future and circulated them to all concerned.

A Sub-Group on 'Model Courts' was constituted by the Advisory Council of the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms. The Sub-Group was headed by Shri Justice P. V. Reddi. Shri Justice A. P. Shah and Prof. N. R. Madhav Menon were the members.  The Sub-Group submitted its Report in 2014 which was circulated to all the High Courts.  The Report of the Sub-Group, inter- alia ,  recommended that a Model Court Complex would need to ensure access by persons with disability.

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