Top judges discuss ways to reduce backlog

A two-day conference of chief justices of the high courts on Friday began deliberations on the steps to be taken to reduce the backlog of more than three crore cases pending in courts and ensuring greater financial autonomy for the judiciary.

The conference convened by Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu also discussed the setting up of delay and arrear committees at the high court-level.

Besides deliberating on the National Vision and Mission Plan for the justice sector for 2015-20, implementation of National Court Management System and greater financial autonomy and other issues, the conference reviewed the progress on the implementation of the decision taken at the last meeting of the chief justices held in April 2013.

The conference that generated controversy for being held on Good Friday also deliberated on putting in place a uniform procedure for the appointment of district judges by creating Judicial Service Commission to help chief justices of high courts conducting a common written examination.

The chief justices also discussed salaries and emoluments of sitting and retired judges, promotion and service conditions of judicial officers in the subordinate judiciary, strengthening of legal aid services, alternate dispute settlement mechanism, judicial academies and the juvenile justice system.

The 2013 conference of high court chief justices had decided that the National Court Management System that was put in place in 2012 to "enhance the quality, responsiveness and timelines of the courts be implemented on uniform basis".

That conference had also decided that high courts would prepare a vision statement on the lines of five-year plans and annual plans for themselves and the subordinate judiciary to augment the "infrastructure, computerisation and citizen-centric services".

Besides setting measurable performance standards, the 2013 conference had also resolved to take steps for the human resource development strategy including recruitment and training of judges, court staff and court managers.

The conclusions of two-day deliberations will be taken up at the daylong conference of chief ministers and chief justices of the high courts that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.