Bring alternate dispute redressal system to lower pendency in courts: Chouhan

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today suggested an alternative dispute redressal mechanism to bring down the number of legal cases piling up in country's judiciary.

Chouhan also called for an active partnership of executive and judiciary to develop judicial infrastructure and modernization of courts.

He was speaking at the joint conference of Chief Ministers of states and Chief Justice of high courts.

Expressing concern over the cases piling up in high and lower courts, he called for alternative dispute redressal.

"Mechanism in which smaller cases like cheque bounce can be dealt at revenue courts only. Also cases like Motor Vehicle Act can be made more effective by penalty and challan," the chief minister of BJP ruled state said.

He suggested formulation of a state litigation policy which will help in making a more transparent and effective system to check crime.

A policy of zero tolerance has been adopted for crime against women and children, he said.

Chouhan also expressed his commitment for providing cheap, easy and timely justice to all concerned.

"Money will never be a constraint in this regards, infrastructure and any other logistics expectation from judiciary will be taken care off from states own resources," he said.

Chouhan said that he is in favour of giving financial autonomy to the high court.

The Chief Minister praised the working at MP High Court and said that there is no pendency of cases for more than five years.

He said that his government is giving full support in digitalisation, creating IT infrastructure and providing trained manpower to courts which will help in streamlining the procedure and reducing the pendency of cases.

The state government has also started CM Advocate welfare scheme, 2012.

Under the scheme Rs one lakh assistance will be given to the next of kin in case of death, grant of 15 thousand will be given for library or office establishment.

Financial assistance will also given for serious illness under the scheme, Chouhan said.