(a) whether Fast Track Courts scheme is coming to an end by March 2010;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government will implement the recommendation made in this
regard by the Nachiappan Committee;
(d) if so, the time by which these recommendations are likely to be implemented;
(e) whether any proposal for strengthening and bringing transparency to judicial
institutions is under consideration of the Government; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (Dr. M. VEERAPPA MOILY)
(a)&(b): Yes, Madam. The term of the scheme recommended by the 11th Finance Commission came to
an end on 31st March, 2005. The scheme was extended for a further period of 5 years i.e.
upto 31st March, 2010.
(c)&(d): The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public
Grievances, Law & Justice headed by Dr. E.M.Sudarsana Natchiappan has made a number of
recommendations on `Fast Track Courts (FTCs)`. It has inter-alia recommended for
monitoring the performance of FTCs, providing financial support and augmenting the
number of FTCs, ensuring that the FTCs resort more to fair trial and judgements,
regularizing the adhoc judges, making sitting judges rather than adhoc judges preside
over FTCs, ensuring that all the non-functional FTCs start working, pursuing with the
respective State Governments and High Courts to ensure that FTCs not only expedite
disposal of cases but also ensure fair trial.
The recommendations of the Committee have been partly accepted. Government is committed to
providing financial support to FTCs upto March, 2010 and also to facilitate improvement
in court efficiency through application of information and communication technology. The
recommendations of the Committee on the issue of fair trial and judgement in FTCs have been
brought to the notice of the Chief Justices of the High Courts. State Governments have
also been requested to make all the nonfunctional FTCs functional on priority basis.
(e)&(f): The Government is considering to bring in a comprehensive Bill on Judicial
Standards and Accountability before the Parliament. Details are being worked out.