Steps on to cut case backlog in courts: Moily

Union law minister Veerappa Moily said on Sunday that the action plan to reduce the backlog of pending cases in various courts from 15 to three years was gaining momentum. A proper infrastructure was being put in place and would be implemented soon, he said.

Addressing mediapersons after a meeting of chief justices and law ministers of six north Indian states in New Delhi on implementation of the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission, Moily said the meeting discussed the common strategy on the plan of action for the judiciary following the allocation of Rs5,000 crore spread over five years.

Moily said that for this year already Rs500 crore have been sanctioned and the high courts have been given flexibility to use the funds in an appropriate manner.

He said that besides the Rs5,000 crore allocation, an additional Rs8,000 crore for various states (excluding Allahabad and Delhi) would be provided on a one-time basis for improving court infrastructure.

Moily also said the move to set up an All India Judicial Service had been put on hold due to ''lack of consensus''. This ambitious plan of the centre aims to recruit 25 per cent of district judges in the country through an all-India exam on the lines of civil services.

The law minister said that the government would hold more consultations with the state governments and the judiciary in order to create a consensus on the issue.