With state governments accounting for more than 30 per cent of cases pending in courts, a move is underway to have more pragmatic litigation policies for them, Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said today.
"I personally feel approximately more than 30 per cent of space which is now occupied by state litigations can be reduced. That can be provided to other litigants like general public, 'aam admi'," Moily told reporters in Panaji.
"The states have been asked to work out litigation policies as we need to vacate the space occupied by state litigators," said the minister, who was in Goa to chair the regional review meeting on implementation of 13th Finance Commission recommendations on improving justice delivery and other matters.
"After consultation process is over, we will sit down and work out a roadmap to ensure that full target of reduction of delay is brought down to three years," he said. Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat and Chief Justices of five High Courts were present for the briefing. Moily said that the Planning Commission has approved Rs 14,000 crore to be utilised in five years.
"Around Rs 2,500 crore has been sanctioned for morning and evening courts and special courts for speedy disposal of petitions. The basic idea is that the cases should not be pending for more than three years," he said. The Planning Commission has sanctioned Rs 750 crore for alternative dispute solutions and Rs 1,000 crore for Lok Adalats, he added.
Moily said the states have asked for flexibility in utilising the funds within the parameters. "States have asked for flexibility in using these grants as there are specific problems with specific states. They have been given liberty to utilise the funds," he said, adding all the states have been asked to form action plan to utilise the funds.
Later, addressing the mediapersons, Moily said there were some aberrations in the judiciary which needed to be removed. "Our judiciary enjoys highest credibility and reputation. There may be some aberrations but these aberrations are reflection of society. "But even that we want to see that such aberrations are removed," he said.
"In fact we are proud of our judiciary. We have largest judiciary and we have judiciary which has upheld rule of law in the country. Our judiciary enjoys highest credibility and reputation," the minister said. Moily said the Centre wants judicial system to have independence, which is resolved in the Constitution. PTI
