Lok Sabha Question No. 1683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: Status of Judicial Infrastructure
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No 1683

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## Status of Judicial Infrastructure

## 1683. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

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

- (a) whether the Registry of Supreme Court of India has compiled data on the status of judicial infrastructure and court amenities including size of court room, basic medical facilities, drinking water with purifiers, library and toilets in all district courts of country including Gopalganj district;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  remedial  steps  being  taken  in  these areas;
- (c) whether it is fact that the district courts of country are faced with the problem  of  lack  of  judicial  infrastructure  and  facilities,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  measures  are  being  taken  by  the  Ministry  to  extend  a Centrally Sponsored Scheme  for developing the infrastructure for the judiciary, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the funds allocated/released and spent in Bihar and the amount yet to be released to the State?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): The Registry of Supreme Court of India has compiled data on the status  of  judicial  infrastructure  and  court  amenities,  including  shortage  of toilets  and  waiting  rooms  for  lawyers  and  litigants.    A  proposal  has  been received  from  Chief  Justice  of  India  for  setting  up  of  National  Judicial Infrastructure Authority of India (NJIAI) for arrangement of adequate infrastructure  for courts,  as  per  which  there  will  be  a  Governing  Body  with Chief  Justice  of  India  as  Patron-in-Chief.  The  other  salient  features  of  the proposal are that  NJIAI  will act as  a  Central  body  in  laying  down  the  road map  for  planning,  creation,  development,  maintenance  and  management  of functional infrastructure for  the  Indian  Court  System, besides  identical structures under all the High Courts. The proposal has been sent to the various State Government/UTs, as they constitute an important stakeholder, for their views on the contours of the proposal to enable taking a considered view on the matter.

As  far  as  status  of  judicial  infrastructure  in  Gopalganj  District  is concerned, as per information made available by the State Government there are 29 old and 24 new court rooms. Facility of drinking water and toilets is also available.

The  primary  responsibility  of  development  of  Infrastructure  facilities for judiciary rests with the State Governments.  To augment the resources of the  State  Governments,  the  Union  Government  has  been  implementing  a Centrally  Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities in district  and  subordinate  courts  by  providing  financial  assistance  to  State Governments  /  UTs  in  the  prescribed  fund  sharing  pattern.  The  scheme  is being  implemented  since  1993-94.  Till  date,  the  Central  Government  has sanctioned Rs. 8758.70 crore under the Scheme to States/UTs, out of which

Rs. 5314.39 crore has been released since 2014-15 which is around 60.68% of the  total  release  under  the  scheme.  During  the  financial  year  2021-22,  an amount of Rs. 770.44 crore has been allocated for the scheme, out of which Rs. 433.45 crore has been released till date. The Government has approved the continuance  of  this  CSS  for  a  period of  5  years  from  01.04.2021  to 31.03.2026, with a total budgetary outlay of Rs.9000 crores, including Central share of Rs.5307 crores. The scheme components have been expanded, to also cover the construction of toilets, digital computer rooms and Lawyers' Hall, in addition to the Court Halls & Residential Units in the district and subordinate courts.

Under this scheme, an amount of Rs. 412.97 crore has been released to the State of Bihar till date. In the current financial year, an allocation of Rs. 51.74 crore has been made for the State of Bihar, however, the same can be released after submission of Utilization Certificate(s) for the unspent balance of  Central  and  State  share  lying  with  the  State  Government,  compliance  of revised Public Financial Management System guidelines and complete Action Plan for the projects to be taken up.

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