Focus on court infrastructure: Pinarayi

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the government will give more attention to enhancing the infrastructure of courts.

Inaugurating a new court complex at Perumbavoor on Saturday, he said courts that had been built in the past were marred by lack of facilities. Their upgrade could not be delayed till the State became financially sound.

Nowadays, those arriving in courts would have to stand for hours. There were courts without the facility for employees and parties to cases to sit. He cited the High Court Chief Justice as saying that the State was way behind in providing housing to judicial officers.

Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran said five more court complexes would be completed in two months. In all, construction of 12 court structures was in progress. Law Minister A.K. Balan said the government was according priority to renovation of courts and expansion of infrastructure facilities.

Supreme Court Judge Kurien Joseph, who was the chief guest, said the dignity of the judiciary arose from the people’s faith in it. As facilities of courts improved, there should be concurrent improvement in output as well. Kerala Chief Justice Antony Dominic said limitations of infrastructure led to delays in court procedure.