Centre to continue with scheme to develop court infrastructure

The Centre today decided to continue with a scheme sponsored by it to develop the infrastructure of the lower courts, which would help complete the construction of 3,000 courtrooms and 1,800 residential units for the judicial officers of subordinate courts.
The Union cabinet decided to extend the scheme beyond the 12th Five Year Plan, till March 31, 2020, to be implemented on a "mission mode" through the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, with an estimated outlay of Rs 3,320 crore.
Briefing reporters about the decision, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the cabinet also approved the setting up of an online monitoring system, with geo-tagging, by the Department of Justice, enabling data collection on the progress and completion of the courtrooms and residential units under construction.

He added that the scheme would increase the number of courtrooms and residential accommodations for judges and judicial officers of subordinate courts all over the country, including those at the district, sub-district, taluka, tehsil, gram panchayat and village levels.
This would help improve the functioning and performance of the judiciary, Prasad said.
The scheme for developing the court infrastructure of the states is in place since 1993-94.