HC issues notice to Centre, state govt

The Madras High Court today ordered issue of notice to the Centre and the state government on a petition seeking a direction to dispose of a representation on implementing the Supreme Court directions on infrastructural facilities in courts for speedy disposal of cases.
The petitioner, advocate V Vasanthakumar, sought a direction to the Centre, the state government and the Registrar General of the High Court to dispose of his representation this year in so far as to comply by implementing the directions of the apex court "as held in the 'Salem Advocate Bar Association -Vs- Union of India reported in, in accordance with law within a specified time. "

In the case, the apex court had directed all the state governments and the Centre to implement the Law Commission recommendations with regard to the infrastructural facilities to be made available to courts throughout the country for speedy disposal of the cases.
He submitted that the direction was issued in 2005 and claimed even after nine years had lapsed, to the best of his knowledge, till date, no definite proposal has been initiated to address the issues as enumerated in the apex court order.
The petitioner submitted his July 3 representation had urged the Centre and the Registrar General of the High Court to reveal the steps taken by them on the matter. He filed the plea as there has been no response.

The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, ordered issue of notice to the senior Standing Counsel of the union Government Haja Mohidin Kisthi and the state government pleader S T S Moorthy.