A proposal has been received from the Chief Justice of India for setting up of National Judicial Infrastructure Authority of India (NJIAI) for arrangement of adequate infrastructure for courts, as per which there will be a Governing Body with Chief Justice of India as Patron-in-Chief. The other salient features in the proposal are that NJIAI will act as a Central body in laying down the road map for planning, creation, development, maintenance and management of functional infrastructure for the Indian Court System, besides, identical structures under all the High Courts. The proposal has been sent to the various State Government/UTs, as they constitute an important stakeholder, for their views on the contours of the proposal to enable taking a considered view on the matter.
The primary responsibility of development of infrastructure facilities for judiciary rests with the State Governments. To augment the resources of the State Governments, the Union Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary by providing financial assistance to State Governments / UTs in the prescribed fund sharing pattern between Centre and States. The Scheme is being implemented since 1993-94. It covers the construction of court buildings and residential accommodations for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Judiciary. A sum of Rs. 8758.71 crore has been released under the Scheme so far since its inception, out of which Rs. 5314.40 crore (60.68 %) has been released since 2014-15. The Scheme has been extended from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 9000 crore including Central share of Rs. 5307.00 crore. Besides the construction of Court Halls and Residential Quarters, the Scheme now also covers the construction of Lawyers’ Halls, Digital Computer Rooms and Toilet Complexes in the District and Subordinate Courts.
As per the information available, details of number of cases pending in various courts are given below:-
(As on 25.03.2022)
|
Court
|
Number of Cases pending
|
|
Supreme Court*
|
70,154
|
|
High Courts
|
58,90,812
|
|
District and Subordinate Courts
|
4,11,09,709
|
*As on 02.03.2022
The status of sanctioned strength and working strength of judges in High Courts is as under:
(As on 25.03.2022)
|
High Courts
|
Sanctioned Strength
|
Working Strength
|
Vacancy
|
|
1104
|
717
|
387
|
Subsequent to the deliberations held in the Conference of the Chief Ministers and Chief Justices in 2013 it was inter-alia resolved that the total sanctioned strength of each High Court could be increased. Subsequently the Judge strength of various High Courts was increased. At present, the sanctioned strength of Judges of High Courts has increased from 906 in 2014 to 1104 in 2022.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in Rajya Sabha, today.
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BY/AS/IG