Lok Sabha Question No. 3478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Judicial Infrastructure in Dhubri
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3478

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 21 st MARCH, 2025

## Judicial Infrastructure in Dhubri

3478. Md. Rakibul Hussain:

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

- (a) the steps being taken to improve the functioning and infrastructure of the district court to handle the rising cases and ensure timely justice delivery in Dhubri district of Assam; and
- (b) the manner in which the Government is addressing the issue of judicial vacancies and shortage of trained judicial staff in order to reduce delays in the justice system and ensure a quicker resolution of cases in the said district?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL )

(a) : The primary responsibility to provide judicial infrastructure for subordinate judiciary rests with the State Governments. The Central Government supplements the resources of the State/UT Governments, by providing financial assistance through the Centrally sponsored Scheme (CSS) for the Development of Judicial Infrastructure. The Scheme covers construction of court halls and residential units for judicial

officers along with lawyers' halls, toilet complexes and digital computer rooms. Rs.11,886.29 cr has been released since the inception of the scheme, out of which, Rs.360.63 cr has been released to the State of Assam. In the last five years, beginning 2020-21, Rs. 154.28 cr has been released to the State of Assam. As per the information provided by the Gauhati High Court and the Government of Assam, the construction of a new Judicial Court Building at Dhubri, comprising 20 Court Halls, 01 Lawyers' Hall, 04 Digital Computer Rooms and 93 Toilets, has been completed at an approved cost of Rs.42.24 cr.

(b) : Filling up of vacant positions of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate courts is the responsibility of the High Courts and State Governments concerned. As per the Constitutional framework, in exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 read with Article 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Government in consultation with the High Court frames the rules and regulations regarding the appointment and recruitment of Judicial Officers in the respective State Judicial Service. The Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order passed in January 2007 in the Malik Mazhar Sultan case, has inter-alia, stipulated certain timelines, which are to be followed by the States and the respective High Courts for recruitment of judges in District and Subordinate Courts. Further, judges of the High Courts are appointed under Article 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India.

The vacancy of judges is not the sole reason for the increased pendency of cases in courts. Pendency of cases in courts is attributable to several factors which, inter-alia, include availability of physical infrastructure and supporting court staff, complexity

of facts involved, nature of evidence, co-operation of stake holders viz. bar, investigation agencies, witnesses and litigants and proper application of rules and procedures. Other factors that lead to delay in disposal of cases include, lack of prescribed time frame by respective courts for various kinds of cases, frequent adjournments and lack of adequate arrangements to monitor, track and bunch cases for hearing.

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