Judicial Infrastructure and Justice Delivery
Source : PIB
GS II : Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity

What is discussed under Judicial Infrastructure Justice Delivery ?

1. What is it ?
2. How it helps ?
3. Major steps taken

Why in News ?

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.

Key Facts

About National Mission for Justice Delivery & Legal Reforms

• • National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms was set up in August, 2011
  • Objectives of increasing access by reducing delays and arrears in the system.
  • 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.

    

  • Reforms involves better infrastructure for courts including computerization, increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and emphasis on human resource development.

Major steps taken

• • Improving infrastructure for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts:
    • • Inception of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary in 1993-94.
      • The number of court halls has increased from 15,818 as on 30.06.2014 to 20,993 as on 30.06.2022
      • 2,777 court halls and 1,659 residential units are under construction (as per MIS data).
      • The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary has been extended till 2025-26 at a total cost of Rs. 9,000 crore
      • Besides, construction of Court Halls and Residential Units, it would also cover construction of lawyer’s halls, toilet complexes and digital computer rooms.
  • Leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for improved justice delivery:
    • • Government has been implementing the e-Courts Mission Mode Project throughout the country for information and communication technology enablement of district and subordinate courts.
      • Number of computerized District & Subordinate courts has increased to 18,735.
      • WAN connectivity has been provided to 99.3% of court complexes.
      • New and user-friendly version of Case Information Software has been developed and deployed at all the computerized District and Subordinate Courts.
      • All stakeholders including judicial officers can access information relating to judicial proceedings/decisions of computerized District & Subordinate Courts and High Courts on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).
      • eCourts services such as details of case registration, cause list, case status, daily orders & final judgments are available to litigants and advocates through eCourts web portal, Judicial Service Centres (JSC) in all computerized courts, eCourts Mobile App, email service, SMS push & pull services.
      • Video Conferencing facility has been enabled between 3,240 court complexes and 1,272 corresponding jails.
  • Filling up of vacant positions in Supreme Court, High Courts and District and Subordinate Courts :
    • • Sanctioned strength of judges of High Courts has been increased from 906 in May, 2014 to 1,108 currently.
  • Reduction in Pendency through / follow up by Arrears Committees :
    • • In pursuance of Resolution passed in Chief Justices’ Conference held in April, 2015, Arrears Committees have been set up in High Courts to clear cases pending for more than five years.
      • Arrears Committees have been set up under District Judges too.
      • Arrears Committee has been constituted in the Supreme Court to formulate steps to reduce pendency of cases in High Courts and District Courts.
      • The Department has developed an online portal for reporting by all High Courts on the compliance of Arrears Eradication Scheme guidelines of the Malimath Committee Report.
  • Emphasis on Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR):
    • • Commercial Courts Act, 2015 (as amended on 20th August, 2018) stipulates mandatory pre-institution mediation and settlement of commercial disputes.
      • Amendment to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has been made by the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act 2015 for expediting the speedy resolution of disputes by prescribing timelines.
  • Initiatives to Fast Track Special Type of Cases :
    • • The Fourteenth Finance Commission endorsed the proposal of the Government to strengthen the judicial system in States which included, inter-alia, establishing Fast Track Courts for cases of heinous crimes; cases involving senior citizens, women, children etc., and urged the State Governments to use the additional fiscal space provided in the form of enhanced tax devolution form 32% to 42% to meet such requirements.

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