Question : Infrastructure in Courts

(a) whether the standard of infrastructure of courts in the country is very poor;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any study to check the standard of infrastructure of the courts in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Union Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the quantum of funds allocated for this scheme since its inception;
(f) the number of residential accommodations that have been made available for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts under this scheme; and
(g) the other steps taken by the Government to improve the basic infrastructure in courts all over the country?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (g): It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments to provide Judicial Infrastructure / Court Rooms for High Courts and District / Subordinate Courts. The Union Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary in order to augment the resources of State Governments, in association with the States / UT Governments. The scheme is being implemented since 1993-94. It covers the construction of court halls and court complexes and residential accommodations of judicial officers of District and Subordinate Judiciary. As on date, Rs. 6,986 crore have been sanctioned since the inception of the Scheme in 1993-94. Out of this, Rs. 3,542 crore (50.70%) have been sanctioned to the States and UTs since April, 2014. 19,179 court halls and 16,852 residential accommodations have been made available for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts under this scheme as on date against the working strength of 17,971 Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts of the country. In addition, 2,818 court halls and 1,856 residential units are under construction.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary was evaluated by third party. The Evaluating Agency namely National Productivity Council, New Delhi, has concluded as under:
1) The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary has immensely contributed towards improving judicial infrastructure;
2) It has helped in improving the quality of overall justice delivery system at the subordinate courts in the country; and
3) It has also been also instrumental in reducing the pendency of cases and for the partial establishment of the elements of model courts and e-Courts at the District level.

The Central Government has also been administering a Central Sector Scheme of eCourt Mission Mode Project (Phase-II), (2015-19) under which funds are made available to various organizations involved in the implementation of the project and High Courts with the aim for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enablement of district and subordinate courts, across the country in association with eCommittee of the Hon''ble Supreme Court of India. So far, out of total outlay of Rs. 1,670 crore, the Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1,248 crore as on date to various organizations involved in the implementation of the project. This includes a sum of Rs. 955.86 crore sanctioned to High Courts. Number of computerised District and Subordinate courts in the country, by the end of first phase of eCourts Project (2014) increased from 13,672 to 16,845 registering an increase of 3,173.