PM: Address case pendency

By VENKAT PARSA

New Delhi, April 19: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said there was a need to increase the number of judicial officers and upgrade judicial infrastructure to bring down the number of pendency of cases in various courts of the country, which continues to be the key challenge.

Addressing the Chief Ministers and Chief Justices Conference here, Dr Singh said, "Pendency in courts can also be reduced through alternative measures for settlement of disputes. Many disputes can be settled through mediation and conciliation. The Chief Justice of India has taken an important initiative in constituting a Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee. I hope the process can move ahead speedily. The intention is to train advocates and judicial officers in the techniques of alternative dispute resolution. I assure you that the Central government is prepared to support this initiative."

Referring to the Gram Nyayalayas Bill, 2007, to strengthen rural capacity, Dr Singh said it envisages setting up of more trial courts at the intermediate panchayat level. These courts would provide justice in relatively simple civil and criminal cases in rural areas. The procedure has also been made simple so that justice is available within 90 days. It envisaged that the courts would function in a manner that justice can be delivered at the doorstep of the justice seeker. Over 5,000 such courts are expected to be established. "I assure this august gathering that the Central government will provide the required funds for gram nyayalayas," he said.