Question : UPGRADATION OF SUBORDINATE COURTS

(a) whether the Government plans to augment the infrastructure of the subordinate courts across the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has a standard benchmarking that flags the minimum levels of facilities that should mandatorily be present in a judicial complex at the subordinate court`s level;

(d) the total cost involved in upgrading all the subordinate court complexes;

(e) whether the Government proposes to generate adequate resources including raising of the court fees to fund the upgradation of subordinate courts; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (DR. M. VEERAPPA MOILY)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO if) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.373 FOR REPLY ON 19-08-2010.

(a) to (f): Primary responsibility for the provision of infrastructure facilities for the subordinate judiciary rests with the State Governments. However, to augment the resources of the State Governments in this regard, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented since 1993-94 under which central assistance is provided to the States/UTs for the construction of court buildings and residential accommodation of Judges. The outlay for this Scheme for the Eleventh Plan Period (2007-12) is Rs. 701.08 crore against which an amount of ? 492.60 crore has been released to the State Governments as on 31-07-2010.

Besides, the Government is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme (E-Courts Project) for computerization of the District and Subordinate Courts in the country and for upgradation of the Information and Communication Technology infrastructure of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, at a cost of 1441.8 crore. In addition, the Government also provides financial assistance to the States for setting up and operation of Gram Nyayalayas. ? 19.65 crore have been provided to the States so far under this Scheme.

No benchmarking of the minimum facilities, required in the Court complexes has been done by the Central Government as it is for the respective State Governments and High Courts to decide on the matter keeping in view the local requirements.

In order to estimate the requirement of funds for meeting the physical infrastructure needs of the Subordinate courts, all the High Courts were requested to send their requirement of funds. On a preliminary examination of the information received, a tentative requirement of about 6,600 crore has been estimated for constructing new court buildings and for providing additional facilities in the existing court buildings.

The matter of further augmenting the resources of the States lo meet the infrastructure requirements of the subordinate courts is under examination of the Government.