Lok Sabha Question No. 1659 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-30
Subject: Implementation of Committee Report
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE**

**DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1659**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON THURSDAY, 30** **TH** **JULY, 2015**

**Implementation of Committee Report**

**1659. SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:**

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

**(a) the details of steps taken / being taken by the Government on the recommendations submitted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice vide their Report No. 67; and**

**(b) the details of the recommendations accepted by the Government along with the time by which these are likely to be implemented?**

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE**

**(SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)**

(a) to (b): Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice made several recommendations on infrastructure development and strengthening of subordinate courts in their 67 th Report.  These recommendations     inter-alia relate to expediting the infrastructure facilities for subordinate courts, improving the effectiveness of computerised courts, financial assistance for Family Courts and Fast Track Courts and filling up of vacancies in subordinate judiciary for reduction of pendency.

An Action Taken Report (ATR) on the above recommendations was furnished to Rajya Sabha Secretariat in June, 2014.  The primary responsibility for development of infrastructure facilities and provision of judicial manpower for district and subordinate courts rests on the State Governments.  Department of Justice had submitted a comprehensive proposal to the 14 th Finance Commission which inter-alia provided for setting up of additional courts in districts with high pendency of cases, re-designing existing court complexes to make them more litigant friendly, establishment of Fast Track Courts and Family Courts, augmenting technical support for ICT enabled courts, enhancing access to justice and capacity building of judicial manpower.  The Finance Commission noted that proposal amounting to Rs. 9,749 crore has been arrived at after an extensive consultation process with the State Governments and merits favourable consideration.  The Finance Commission has endorsed the proposal and urged the State Governments to use the additional fiscal space provided by them in the tax devolution to meet the requirement of additional infrastructure and manpower for judiciary.

The Joint Conference of Chief Ministers of States and Chief Justices of High Courts was convened on 5 th April, 2015 to discuss the broad agenda of judicial reforms.  With the enhanced devolution of funds to the States on the recommendations of the 14 th Finance Commission it now falls on the State Governments to increase investment in justice sector.  It was accordingly resolved that Chief Justices and Chief Ministers shall institute a mechanism for regular communication among themselves to resolve issues particularly those relating to infrastructure and manpower needs and facilities for the judiciary.

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