Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 3: Notwith-standing the fact that better infrastructure facilitates better justice delivery, the fate of more than 65 judicial infrastructure projects has been hanging in balance in Jammu and Kashmir for the past quite long time. On one side, there is soft-paddling on the part of the State Government on release of funds and on the other side concerned authorities in the higher judiciary are not showing the promptness in completion of procedural formalities at their respective end.
This can be gauged from the latest status report of infrastructure of Jammu and Kashmir Judiciary released by none else than the High Court, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR. Out of 72 projects dealt in the report, the fate of 66 is hanging in balance as on February 2, 2016 because of one or the other reason.
Of 66 projects facing impediments in different forms, 29 projects have been facing financial constraints because the Government has not released the required funds despite repeated communications from the High Court. Out of these 29 projects, 15 are in Jammu province and 14 in Kashmir valley.
The projects whose completion is getting delayed for want of funds from the Government in Jammu province include parking in the High Court Complex at Janipur, lawyers’ chamber at District Court Complex, Jammu; ramp for visually disabled persons at lawyers’ chamber in District Court Complex at Janipur; electric connection and creation of sub-station of suitable capacity at lawyers’ chamber, High Court Complex Jammu; District Court Complex at Samba; District Court Complex at Reasi, District Court Complex at Ramban; District Court Complex at Kishtwar; Additional District Court Complex at Doda; District Court Complex and Residential quarter of Munsiff Bhaderwah; District Court Complex at Udhampur and Sub Judge Court Complex at Ramnagar.
Similarly, funds are awaited from the Government for conference hall at High Court Complex, Srinagar; administrative block for Advocate General at Srinagar; court complex at Mominabad, Srinagar; lawyers chamber at District Headquarters Mominabad, Srinagar; court complex at Sopore in Baramulla district; residential quarter at Sopore; new District Court Complex at Baramulla; acquisition of land for construction of court/residential building for the court of Munsiff at Boniyar; Munsiff Court complex and residential quarter at Gurez in Bandipora district; District Court Complex at Pulwama; extension of District Court Complex at Pulwama; District Court Complex at Anantnag; lawyers’ chamber at District Court Complex Shopian; record room and renovation of office chambers at District Court Complex, Kupwara and double storeyed court building (Addl District and Sessions Court) at Handwara.
What to talk of State Government and its agencies even the concerned authorities in the higher judiciary have been soft-paddling on the activities required to be carried out at their level in respect of many projects.
This can be gauged from the fact that 14 projects in Jammu province and 23 in Kashmir valley have been pending for want of necessary action by such authorities.
The decision of such authorities is awaited on Administrative Block in the Jammu Wing of the High Court; installation of towers in High Court premises and various other courts of the State; permanent restoration of Record Room in the basement of new wing block including Library and Canteen Halls in the main block of the High Court Complex, Srinagar; construction of Guest House and Hostel Block for J&K State Judicial Academy at Mominabad, Srinagar; repair and renovation of additional one room with toilet adjoining to residential quarters at Akhnoor; construction of additional accommodation for Mobile Magistrate and CPO Room in District Court Complex at Samba; construction of court complex and residential quarter at Kotli Bajalian, Katra; construction of court complex and residential quarters for Additional Mobile Magistrate at Chandoosa; opening of post office in the court complex at Baramulla; construction of record room at District Court Complex at Baramulla; construction of lawyers chambers at District Court Complex, Anantnag; construction of District Court Complex and residential quarters at Shopian; District Court Complex at Kulgam; Munsiff Court Complex at Qazigund; lawyers’ chamber at Munsiff Court Complex Magam; construction of Judicial Guest House at Skara Juk, Leh; new court complex at Leh; construction of office complex including VIP Guest House for Mini Court/Office at Khaltsi, Leh; Munsiff Court Complex at Sankoo in Kargil; District Court Complex including guest house and residential quarters for Judicial Officers at Khurbathang, Kargil and Munsiff Court Complex at Zanskar etc.
Moreover, the decisions/ actions are awaited from different quarters in the higher judiciary in respect of construction of District Courts of Additional Sessions Judge and Munsiff Judicial Magistrate 1st Class Kathua; construction of court complex and residential quarters at Kotranka; construction of court complex and residential quarters at Thanamandi; construction of court building and residential quarters at Majalta; construction of Sub-Judge Court Complex at Surankote and Pattan; construction of residential quarters at Baramulla; District Court Complex at Bandipora and court complexes and other facilities at Kupwara, Chadoora, Budgam and Beerwah.
“The hanging fate of such a large number of projects is a matter of serious concern for the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar, who has now devised a strategy to ensure that all the concerned quarters expedite the actions/decisions on their part so that necessary push is given to these projects for the better functioning of the judiciary in different parts of the State”, sources said.
Moreover, he has directed for regularly taking up with the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs the issue of delay in release of funds for the ongoing projects so that further delay is avoided, sources further said.
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