Lok Sabha Question No. 32 (STARRED), answered on 2016-02-25
Subject: Judicial Reforms
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *32

TO BE ANSWERED ON THURSDAY, 25 TH FEBRUARY, 2016

## Judicial Reforms

- *32. SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to implement judicial reforms in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  these  reforms  are  likely  to  be implemented; and
- (c) the details of funds allocated and utilised for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

- (a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) of LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO. *32 FOR ANSWER ON 25 TH  FEBRUARY, 2016.

The National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms was set up in August, 2011 with the twin objectives of increasing access by reducing delays and arrears in the system and enhancing accountability through structural changes and by setting performance standards and capacities.  The Mission has been pursuing a co-ordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration which, inter-alia , involves better infrastructure for courts including computerization, increase in manpower strength of judiciary, suggesting policy and  legislative  measures  in  the  areas  prone  to  excessive  litigation,  recommending  reengineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and emphasis on human resource development.    Infrastructure  Development  for  Subordinate  Judiciary  and  Computerization  of Courts are the major initiatives of the Government for judicial reforms.  The Central Government has  provided  financial  assistance  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  3,694  crores  to  State  Governments  and Union  Territories  for  upgradation  /  construction  of  court  complexes  and  residential  units  for judicial  officers  in  the  last  five  years.    The  eCourts  Integrated  Mission  Mode  Project  (eCourts IMMP) is one of the National eGovernance Plan (NeGP) projects, which is being implemented for  the  Information  &  Communication  Technology  (ICT)  enablement  /  computerisation  of  the Supreme Court, 24 High Courts and district & subordinate courts in the country. Computerization of courts would enable the courts to exercise greater control over management of cases in the docket.  It will also provide designated services to the litigants and the lawyers. In order to reduce government litigation in courts the Central Government has encouraged the States to notify their litigation policies which contain provisions for weeding out infructuous cases and promote dispute resolution through alternative mechanisms.

The legislative initiatives taken by the Government in the recent past include amendments to  the  Negotiable  Instruments  Act,  1881  to  clarify  the  jurisdictional  issues  and  provide  for centralization  of  cases  against  the  same  drawer,  amendments  to  Arbitration  and  Conciliation Act,  1996 for time bound conclusion of arbitration proceedings and notification of Commercial Courts,  Commercial  Division  and  Commercial  Appellate  Division  of  High  Court  Act,  2015  for speedy disposal of high value commercial disputes.  Judicial reform is a continuous process.

Details of Budget Estimates and Actual Expenditure of Plan Schemes of the Department of Justice for the years 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and the current financial year (2015-16) are given in the Statement Annexed .

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## Annexure referred to in Statement laid on the Table of the House in relation to reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*32 for answer on 25.02.2016

Details of Budget Estimates and Actual Expenditure of Plan Schemes of Department of Justice during years 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and the current financial year (2015-16) (Rs. in Crores)

| Sl. No.   | Name of the Scheme / Sub- Scheme / Component                                                | 2012-13          | 2012-13            | 2013-14          | 2013-14            | 2014-15          | 2014-15            | 2015-16          | 2015-16                            |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|--------------------|------------------|--------------------|------------------|--------------------|------------------|------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | Name of the Scheme / Sub- Scheme / Component                                                | Budget Estimates | Actual Expenditure | Budget Estimates | Actual Expenditure | Budget Estimates | Actual Expenditure | Budget Estimates | Actual Expenditure upto 23.02.2016 |
| 1.        | Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for development of infrastructure facilities for judiciary | 660.00           | 708.2078           | 911.00           | 895.00             | 935.99           | 933.00             | 562.99           | 562.99                             |
| 2.        | Computerization of District and Subordinate Courts (Phase - I)                              | 233.66           | 72.97              | 118.00           | 38.90              | 58.00            | 9.95               | 2.00             | 2.00                               |
| 3.        | E-Courts Mission Mode Project (Phase - II)                                                  | 1.00             | 0.00               | 0.00             | 0.00               | 60.00            | 0.00               | 227.13           | 201.24                             |
| 4.        | Scheme of Assistance to State Governments for Establishing and Operating Gram Nyayalayas    | 114.00           | 4.10               | 25.00            | 5.00               | 0.01             | 3.00               | 0.01             | 0.00                               |
| 5.        | Access to Justice - Government of India (NEJK)                                              | 5.00             | 0.00               | 8.00             | 0.56               | 8.00             | 3.18               | 7.00             | 2.06                               |
| 6.        | Access to Justice (UNDP) (SAJI)                                                             | 4.84             | 2.4461             | 5.00             | 1.19               | 5.00             | 7.14               | 5.00             | 4.30                               |
| 7.        | Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms                                             | 4.00             | 0.00               | 5.00             | 0.00               | 5.00             | 0.09               | 2.50             | 0.35                               |
| 8.        | National Mission - Action Plan Implementation                                               | 20.00            | 0.00               | 5.00             | 0.00               | 5.00             | 0.00               | 0.01             | 0.00                               |
| 9.        | Setting up of Model Court                                                                   | 7.50             | 0.00               | 26.00            | 0.0145             | 26.00            | 0.00               | 0.01             | 0.00                               |
| Total     | Total                                                                                       | 1050.00          | 787.7239           | 1103.00          | 940.6645           | 1103.00          | 956.36             | 806.65           | 772.94                             |

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