(a) whether any treaty has been signed regarding establishment of an International Arbitration Centre in India;
(b) if so, details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government has proposed to plan for the development of infrastructure facilities for the Judiciary; and
(d) if so, details thereof ?
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) : Yes.
(b) : A Host Country Agreement (HCA) was signed on 19.09.2008 between the Government of the Republic of India and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) for establishment of a Regional Facility of PCA in India. As per the article 1 of the HCA, the Republic of India shall be a host country for the PCA in the peaceful resolution of international disputes through arbitration, mediation, conciliation and fact-finding commissions of inquiry and in providing other appropriate assistance to government, inter-governmental organisations and other entities. Further, as per article 4 of the HCA, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has to coordinate on behalf of the Government all issues arising with respect to implementation of the agreement. Also article 6 of the HCA states that the PCA including any space provided and used pursuant to article 3 shall enjoy mutatis mutandis, the same privileges and immunities as those accorded to the United Nations in the Republic of India pursuant to Art. II of the UN convention (Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations 1946).
(c) &(d) : 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 in district and subordinate courts by providing financial assistance to State Governments/UTs in the prescribed fund sharing pattern. The Scheme is being implemented since 1993-94. Till date the Central Government has sanctioned Rs. 8709.77 crore under the Scheme to States/UTs. The Scheme has been extended from time to time. Under this scheme funds are released by the Central Government for construction of court buildings and residential accommodations for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Judiciary. The Government has extended the above scheme for a further period of five years from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026, with a total budgetary outlay of Rs. 9000 crores, including Central share of Rs. 5307 crores. The scheme components have been expanded to also cover the construction of toilets, digital computer rooms and Lawyers’ Hall in the district and subordinate courts. As per information made available by the High Courts, 20,565 Court Halls and 18,142 Residential Units are available in the District and Subordinate Courts as on 31.10.2021. Moreover, 2841 Court Hall and 1807 Residential Units are under construction.
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