NEW DELHI, Apr 2:
Judicial reforms to tackle over 2.6 crore cases pending in courts and ensure speedy trial would be among critical issues to be debated upon at a conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts beginning here tomorrow.
The three-day conference, to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, is likely to discuss ways to lessen pendency in courts and development of infrastructure besides ensuring expeditious trial.
“A comprehensive agenda has been drawn up for the Conference. With 2.64 crore undecided cases in the subordinate courts and 42 lakh cases in the High Courts, expeditious disposal of cases is the key issue to be discussed.
“To address this issue, the agenda includes discussion on development of infrastructure, undertaking judicial reforms, ICT enablement of courts and specific steps required for reduction of arrears and ensuring speedy trial,” a release said.
While Chief Justice of India H L Dattu would preside over the conference, Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda would also address the gathering, it said.
The conference of the Chief Justices would discuss the issues such as “developing a National Vision and Mission Plan for the justice sector for 2015-20, salaries and emoluments of sitting and retired judges, promotion and service conditions of judicial officers in the subordinate judiciary and greater financial autonomy for the Indian judiciary.”
Strengthening of legal aid services, alternate dispute settlement mechanism, judicial academies and juvenile justice system would also come up for discussion, the release said.
The conference, which is being held periodically to address “pressing issues relating to the administration of justice”, was last held in April, 2013.
It further said the 14th Finance Commission has endorsed a number of activities aimed at improving the justice delivery system at an estimated cost of Rs 9,749 crore over the next five years.
The Conference is “expected to come up with definite outcomes in the form of resolutions for implementation by the judiciary and the Central & State Governments,” it said.
The Centre has urged State Governments to undertake these activities from the additional devolution of funds to States. “The Chief Ministers of States and the Chief Justices of the High Courts will discuss modalities of funding these important initiatives,” the release said.
“The Central Government has undertaken many initiatives to improve the justice delivery system. Rs 3,131 crore has been released to States for development of infrastructure since 2011 and another Rs 1,947 crore was released under the 13th Finance Commission for ADR Centres, Judicial Academies, Lok Adalats and Training,” it said.
The Conference is also likely to discuss how to leverage this investment for improving justice delivery.
The first Phase of the e-Court Mission Mode Project has just concluded with an investment of about Rs. 600 crore, under which case data of 13672 courts is now online, the release said.
The National Judicial Data Grid presently covering courts under the jurisdiction of 21 out of 24 High Courts is available to the judiciary for improving case and court management and judicial performance, it added. (PTI)
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