Abdul Haq outlines roadmap for advancing JK’s justice delivery system; ‘9603 cases disposed by High Court,
22050 by Subordinate Courts; Law Commission to be made functional soon to
review redundant laws’
Jammu, January 18: Minister for Law and Justice Abdul
Haq today reiterated that the government is forcefully defending JK’s stated
position on Article 35A and other such litigations pending in the courts.
Winding up the discussion on the Demand for Grants of Law and allied
Departments in the Legislative Assembly, Minister said the department has hired
the services of a battery of senior most advocates of the country including
Fali S Nariman, Shekhar Naphade, Rakesh Dwivedi and KV Viswanathan to
vigorously pursue these litigations and put across the State’s
position.
While outlining the road map to fine tune the justice system in the
state, he said the government has constituted a committee to identify and weed
out some of the frivolous litigations that will ensure timely deliverance of
justice in the state.
Enumerating the measures taken by the Law Department during the past 3
years to fine-tune the delivery of justice, theMinister said that the government will shun the
practice of carrying on law suits, which, due to lack of legal merit, have
little to no chance of being won. He said this leads to denial of justice to
the aggrieved persons, by dragging them in the courts unnecessarily.
He said the Committee has been mandated to review the State cases and
the Law departments have been directed to place the cases before the Committee
which are not worth contesting. This will decrease the burden of
unnecessary litigation on the State so that focused attention is given to the
cases which are worth contesting
He said the government is taking steps to reduce the pendency of cases
in various courts in the state. He said he is personally monitoring
the status of some of the important cases and also calling
review meetings to discuss the status of various other cases. He said he has
been impressed upon the law officers that they should take every possible steps
for protection of State interests in the Court and that the interim directions
which have effect of stalling development works should be immediately got
vacated.
Minister said during the current financial year 9603 cases were
disposed off in the JK High Court including 8137 criminal cases while 78496
cases were disposed off in subordinate cases including 22050 cases.
The minister further stated that the State Legal Services Authority
organised 267 Lok Adalats this year and settled about 82281 cases besides 858
MACT cases while 75527 cases were also settles through National Lok Adalat.
HE said with the constant efforts and regular monitoring and review
meetings, the conviction rate in criminal cases have increased manifold and
prosecution of these cases is being done with full vigour. He said
instructions have been given that no innocent person should be falsely
implicated in a case but offenders should be strictly dealt with the cases
should be contested properly.
He said the State Government has also implemented the Shetty Commission
recommendation thereby enhancing perks and allowances of employees besides
creating number of posts in the Subordinate Judiciary.
The Law minister further stated that the government has constituted a
Law Commission to review some of the laws which have become redundant over a
period of time to improve the justice system in the state. He said the Commission
will soon become functional after appointment of its Chairperson and Members
which is in pipeline.
He said the commission will identify State laws which are no longer
needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed or amended. He said the
commission will also suggest suitable measures for quick redressal of citizens’
grievances, in the field of law and will examine the laws which affect the poor
and carry out post-audit for socio-economic legislations besides taking
measures as may be necessary to harness law and the legal process in the
service of the poor. The law commission will also recommend measures for
bringing the Statute book up-to-date by repealing obsolete laws and enactments
or parts thereof which have outlived their utility.
He said Four Fast Track Courts of the rank of District and Sessions
Judges for trial of cases against women have also been created at Jammu, Doda,
Kupwara and Budgam. Law Minister further stated that government has also rolled
out mission to computerize the Courts with signing of tripartite agreement
between Government of India, State Government and High Court. He said during
the current financial year, Rs 5.05 crore were released under various heads for
implementation of E-Court Mission Mode Project while under phase 2nd of Mission
Mode Project, a proposal for creation of 74 posts with a financial implication
of Rs 1.81 crore is under consideration of the Government.
He said in order to speed up the trial which are being delayed due to
non production of accused, all efforts are being made to record evidence by way
video conference, through the concerned jail.
Minister said the Juvenile Justice Boards have also been created in
Anantnag, Baramulla, Srinagar, Doda, Rajouri, Kargil, Jammu and Leh Districts
with creation of eight posts of Principal Magistrates (Munsiffs) for the said
Boards.
He said
the State Accountability Commission and State Human Rights Commission have been
made fully functional by appointment of Chairpersons and Members.
He said the developmental activities in respect of State Judiciary are
being carried out under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Development of
infrastructural facilities for the Judiciary. The scheme aims at improving the
physical infrastructure of Subordinate Courts as also the housing needs of
judicial officers of District and Subordinate Courts in the country with a view
to facilitate better justice delivery.
He said this year District Court Complex Moominabad was also
inaugurated that was constructed with revised estimated cost of Rs 120.28
crores equipped with all modern facilities for the Judges and litigants
including 31 Court Halls.
He said construction of District Court Complex, Pulwama and court
complex Boniyar have also been completed while District Court Complex, Samba
Udhampur, Ramnagar, Doda will be completed this year.
Minister said that the department has also promoted as many as 126
officers/officials in different categories to the next higher level.
Later, the House passed the grants amounting to Rs 42595.89 lakhs to
defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st
March, 2019 for Administration of Justice, Elections, Stamps and Registration, Taxes
on Vehicles, Other Administrative Services, Labour and Employment, Capital
outlay on Works.
Earlier several legislators including Mian Altaf Ahmad, Choudhary
Sukhnandan Kumar, Vikar Rasool Wani, M Y Tarigami, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Aga Syed
Ruhullah Mehdi, Dr Devinder Manyal, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin , Mohammad Akbar Lone, Shakti
Raj Parihar, G M Saroori, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Choudhary Qamar Hussain, Ali
Mohammad Sagar, Jeevan Lal, Syed Mohammad Baqir Razvi, Pawan Kumar Gupta,
Mohammad Amin Bhat, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, Javid Ahmad Rana,
Abdul Majid Paddar and Nawang Rigzin Jora participated in the discussion on
Demand for Grants.
Highlights
Ø High Court disposed 9603 cases, Subordinate
courts disposed 78496 cases.
Ø 267 Lok Adalats held, 82281 cases settled
Ø 75527 cases settled by National Lok Adalat
Ø 4 Fast Track Courts for women established in
Budgam, Kupwara, Jammu, Doda
Ø 8 Juvenile Justice Boards/Munsiffs set up
Ø Shetty Commission Recommendations implemented for Subordinate Judiciary
Ø Law Commission to be made functional soon to
study redundant Laws
Ø SAC, SHRC made fully functional by
appointment of Chairpersons and members
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