The Budget has addressed the nagging pendency of cases mounting in district and High Courts of the country by allocating Rs 630 crore in the coming fiscal for creation of judicial infrastructure and Rs 480 crore towards computerisation of courts. The judicial backbone of the country is already straining under the weight of pending cases mounting by the day mainly due to lack of judicial infrastructure and vacant judicial posts. According to latest statistics gathered by the Supreme Court of India, the total pending cases in the subordinate courts across the country has risen from 2.68 lakh cases in 2013 to 2.71 lakh cases in 2015.
The state of judicial infrastructure is more telling. There is a shortage of 5018 courtrooms in the subordinate judiciary. The existing 15540 court halls are insufficient to cater to the sanctioned strength of 20558 judicial officers as on January 1, 2016. Even on the residential accommodation to judges in the subordinate courts, there is a shortage of 8538 residential quarters. The working of Courts is further hampered due to the acute vacancy of court staff, currently at 41775 which hinders smooth functioning of courts.
To tide over this crisis, albeit by taking small steps, the Budget has proposed an outlay of Rs 630 crore under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary. Under this, the Government intends to construct 600 additional Court halls and 350 residential units in the coming year. The Budget has also allocated Rs 480 crore for E-Court Mission that will computerise 709 new courts and provide technical infrastructure to over 6000 courts. This project also entails wi-fi connectivity and providing solar energy in 41 court complexes.