CJI sets up high-powered panel for judicial infrastructure overhaul
New Delhi (PTI): Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has decided to set up a high-powered committee headed by Supreme Court judge Aravind Kumar to prepare a blueprint for the modernisation of courts across the country and secure government allocation of funds.
The CJI announced the constitution of the Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee to address infrastructural deficiencies in courts through substantial financial support from the government.
Apart from Justice Kumar, the committee will comprise Justices Debangsu Basak, Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Somasekhar Sundaresan of the high courts of Calcutta, Punjab and Haryana, and Bombay, respectively.
“A Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee has been constituted by the Chief Justice of India keeping in view the varied infrastructural requirements of different High Courts and District Courts.
"The purpose of the Committee is to ensure a unified infrastructural ecosystem on a pan-India basis,” the secretary general of the apex court said in a statement.
“The committee will submit its report to the Chief Justice of India who shall, on consideration thereof, take up the matter with the Government of India and the state governments,” the statement said.
The director general of the Central Public Works Department and the secretary general of the Supreme Court will also be members of the panel.
The committee is likely to focus on seven key areas, including identifying systemic constraints, improving facilities for litigants and lawyers and implementing cutting-edge technology to accelerate case disposal.
The panel will also focus on the "e-courts" initiative to bridge the digital divide and the construction of "modern court complexes" designed for the 21st century.
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Hijab decision taken out of fear of Karnataka Muslim convention, alleges Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru: Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that the Karnataka government announced its decision on the hijab issue out of fear of the ‘Karnataka Muslim Convention’ scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on May 16 organized by Federation of Karnataka Muslim Organisations.
Addressing a press conference at the JD(S) state office, GP Bhavan, in Bengaluru on Thursday, Kumaraswamy said he respects all religions and has expressed his views on the issue on several public platforms in the past.
Questioning the timing of the government’s move, he said the Congress has been in power for three years and had taken no decision on the hijab issue during that period.
He alleged that the decision was taken only because the ‘Karnataka Muslim Convention’ is scheduled to be held at Town Hall in Bengaluru on May 16.
“If the government had the courage, it should have taken this decision immediately after coming to power. Why did it remain silent for three years?” he asked.
Kumaraswamy accused the Congress of making the announcement to appease a particular community.
He further said the matter is still pending before the courts and claimed that an interim order relating to the hijab issue remains in force.
According to him, issuing such an order before the legal proceedings are concluded amounts to disrespect towards the judiciary.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that the Congress brought the issue back into focus after the Davanagere by-election results.
