CJI NV Ramana bats for clean judicial Infrastructure, urges law minister to ensure that the plan for NJIAI is taken up in Parliament

(Judicial Quest News Network)

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Saturday urged the Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijuji to take up the plan for National Judicial Infrastructure Authority of India in the upcoming session of Parliament.

The CJI said that an effective judiciary can aid in economic growth and courts are essential for any society which is governed by the rule of law.

Judicial infrastructure is important for improving access to justice and to meet the growing demands of the public that is more aware of its rights and is developing economically. It is baffling to note that the improvement and maintenance of judicial infrastructure are still being caried out in an ad-hoc and unplanned manner CJI Ramana Said.

CJI was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the annexe building of the Bombay High Court’s Aurangabad Bench.

The union minister for Law and Justice Mr. Kiren Rijuji, Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhav Thackrey and judges of the Supreme Court were also present to inaugurate the B and C wings of the High Court.

While delivering his keynote speech CJI NV Ramana stresses on the need for NJIAI and said, Good judicial infrastructure for courts in India has always been an afterthought. It is because of this mindset that courts in India still operate from dilapidated structures making it difficult to effectively perform their function.

CJI further elaborated that “An effective judiciary can aid in the effective growth of the economy. According to international research published in 2018, failure to deliver timely justice cost the country as much as 9% of annual GDP. Moreover, the impact of an under-supported judiciary is also seen on the foreign investments. Without adequate infrastructure we cannot aspire to fill this gap”.

If we want a different outcome from the judicial system, we cannot continue to work in these circumstances. Said the CJI.

An integral aspect, in this regard, is the financial autonomy of the judiciary. I have, therefore, sent a proposal for the establishment of the National Judicial Infrastructure Authority to the Ministry of Law and Justice, and I am hoping for a positive response soon.

I urge the Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice to expedite the process and ensure that the proposal to create National Judicial Infrastructure Authority of India (NJIAI) with statutory backing is taken up in the upcoming Winter Session of the Parliament. Institutionalising the mechanism for augmenting and creating state-of-the-art judicial infrastructure is the best gift that we can think of giving to our people and our country in this 75th year of our Independence.

I do not wish to burden all of you with the facts and figures regarding the state of judicial infrastructure in this country. I will do so at a more appropriate forum. However, I have to present a few hard facts before you all, today:

i. The total sanctioned strength of judicial officers in the country is 24,280 and the number of court halls available is 20,143 (including 620 rented halls).

ii. 26% of court complexes do not have separate ladies toilets and 16% do not have gents toilets.

iii. Only 54% of court complexes have purified drinking water facility.

iv. Only 5% of court complexes have basic medical facilities.

v. Only 32% of court rooms have separate Record Rooms.

vi. Only 51% of court complexes have a library.

vii. Only 27% of court rooms have computer placed on the Judge’s dais with video-conferencing facility.

These are the hard facts.

Also speaking at the function, Supreme Court Judge Justice D Y Chandrachud said the flipside od their work is they are confronted with extent of Justice and Injustice faced by the citizens across the nation.

Justice Chandrachud further added that while the judiciary is celebrating the inaugural of the building but at the same time there has to be introspection from judiciary on how to address the issue of pending cases in the state and country.

He said that as on date there are 48 lakh cases pending in Maharashtra with around 21,000 cases being more the three decades old. These are some of the problems that we have to face

Ultimately, I hope that this new Annexe will energize the Aurangabad Bar. The Bar of Maharashtra has always been well known for producing some of the best advocates and Judges in the country, some of whom are sharing this dais with me. In the past 25 years, since the Aurangabad bench was set up, it has also been instrumental in enhancing the already sparkling reputation of the lawyers and judges from this State. I hope this rich tradition continues.