(a) whether the Government has discontinued the evening courts which used
to be held in High Courts and subordinate courts;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) the impact of the above decision on the pendency of cases in the said courts;
(d) the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to resume the sitting of evening courts?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND
ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e): The setting up of the subordinate courts which inter alia includes, evening courts and their continuance or discontinuance fall within the domain of the State Governments who in consultation with the concerned High Courts take appropriate decisions as per their need and resources.
After the conclusion of the tenure of the 13th Finance Commission and in accordance with the resolution passed in the Conference of Chief Justices in April, 2015 and also endorsed during the CM/CJ Conference held on 24th April, 2016, morning and evening courts have been discontinued in all but three states (Delhi, Telangana & Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu).
It was resolved in the Conference of the Chief Ministers of the State Governments and Chief Justices of the High Courts held on the 24th April, 2016 that the existing judicial infrastructure of the State judiciaries be utilized for setting up of morning /Evening or Holiday Courts, as the case may be, with retired judges as well. These courts may be constituted to deal with cases relating to petty offences, such as traffic cases and legal aid cases at the discretion of the High Courts.