(a) Whether the Government has provided special assistance to the State Governments for judicial reforms and to reduce the large number of pending cases in the courts;
(b) If so, the names of such States to which assistance has been given alongwith the quantum thereof during the last three years, and
(c) The details of the various works likely to be undertaken with the help of above financial assistance?
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI SALMAN KHURSHID)
(a) to (c) : Yes, Madam. The Government has provided assistance to the
State Governments for judicial reforms and for reducing the large number of
pending cases in the courts by releasing funds awarded by the Thirteenth Finance
Commission for the improvement of justice delivery as well as under the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme for development of infrastructure facilities for the subordinate
judiciary and scheme for assistance for setting up of the Gram Nyayalayas.
Under the Thirteenth Finance Commission a provision of Rs. 5000 crores
has been made for a period of five years (2010-15.) for State Governments for
the improvement of justice delivery. This grant is aimed at providing support
to improve judicial outcomes, and is allocated for the following initiatives:
(i) Increasing the number of court working hours using the existing
infrastructure by holding morning / evening/ shift courts; (ii) Enhancing
support to Lok Adalats to reduce the pressure on regular courts;
(iii) Providing additional funds to State Legal Services Authorities to
enable them to enhance legal aid to the marginalized and empower them to
access justice; (iv) Promoting the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism
to resolve part of the disputes outside the court system; (v) Enhancing
capacity of judicial officers and public prosecutors through training
programmes; (vi) Supporting creation or strengthening of a judicial
academy in each state to facilitate such training; (vii) Creation of the
post of Court Managers in every judicial district to assist the judiciary
in their administrative functions; and (viii) Maintenance of heritage court
buildings.
The details of assistance given State-wise under Thirteenth Finance Commission, as on 31th July,2012, are at Annex.- I.
The details of assistance provided to the State Governments under Centrally Sponsored Scheme for development of Infrastructure Facilities for subordinate Judiciary during the last three years are at Annex- II. The details of assistance provided for Gram Nyayalayas during the last three years are at Annex.- III.