Lok Sabha Question No. 986 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: National Judicial Infrastructure Authority
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja, Badruddin Ajmal

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 986 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2021

## National Judicial Infrastructure Authority

986.   SHRI A. RAJA:

SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

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

- (a)  whether  the  courts  in  India  lack  infrastructure  such  as  court  rooms  with adequate space and modern facilities and court complexes are not having basic facilities  such  as  separate  toilets  for  women,  medical  aid  centre,  water  purifier and libraries making it difficult for them to perform effectively;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the percentage of lower courts not having separate toilets for  women;
- (c)  whether  the  Ministry  has  received  any  proposal  from  the  Chief  Justice  of India to set up the National Judicial Infrastructure Authority for arrangement of adequate infrastructure for courts;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the efforts being made by the Government to improve judicial infrastructure to ensure ease of doing business; and
- (e) the details of funds provided or proposed to be provided by the Government to the States in the next five years?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b):  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.  As per this data, 26% court complexes do not have separate ladies toilet.

(c) to (e):  Yes, Sir. A proposal has been received from the 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 in 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 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.  8709.77  crore under  the  Scheme  to  States/UTs.  The  scheme  has  been  extended  from  time  to time.    Under  this  scheme  funds  are  released  by  the  Central  Government  for construction  of  court  buildings  and  residential  accommodations  for  Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Judiciary. The Government has extended the above scheme for a further period of five 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 the district and  Rs.  47.00  crore  have  been  approved  for  the and  subordinate  courts construction of Toilet complexes in the District and Subordinate Courts.

As per information made available by the High Courts, 20,565 Court Halls and 18,142 Residential Units are available in the District and Subordinate Courts as  on  31.10.2021.  Moreover,  2841  Court  Halls  and  1807  Residential  Units  are under construction.

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