Minister directs officials to end the middlemen menace in Minorities Development Corporation
Bengaluru, Jun 13: Karnataka Housing and Minorities Welfare Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan on Tuesday instructed officials concerned to put an end to the menace of middlemen in the Minorities Development Corporation and to maintain transparency in the selection of beneficiaries by giving wide publicity to the schemes of the Corporation.
Reviewing the progress at the Corporation hall here on Tuesday, he said that the Minorities Development Corporation should not have schemes for name-sake but it must be implemented effectively by promoting it across the state, according to a statement issued by his office.
There is a need for undertaking a massive campaign to make the community know of the schemes available with the Minorities Department and Development Corporation, the minister was quoted as saying.
Khan insisted that it should be made mandatory to get a 10 percent contribution from the beneficiaries in the taxi, auto, and goods vehicle loan scheme offered by the corporation. Besides, the Corporation itself must coordinate with the banks and ensure the loans are sanctioned under the Single Window scheme, he added.
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Expressing displeasure over the 15 per cent loan recovery rate of the Minorities Development Corporation, the minister wanted the recovery to be at least 50 per cent.
As much as Rs 760 crore was disbursed as the education loan was pending and that must be recovered by offering a one-time settlement with waiving off interest on the loan amounts, the statement read.
"If women from the Minority community come forward to open startups, they must be given all financial assistance along with subsidies. For the victims of communal clashes, the funds available under the 'Maneya Malige' must be utilised for their rehabilitation," the Minister said.
Khan said the corporation has sanctioned Rs 31 crore to the slum board for the construction of houses for the poor and a progress report must be prepared to know whether this scheme has benefitted them or not.
As there is a need for the continuation of the scheme, a fresh proposal must be prepared. Besides, a detailed report must be prepared earlier to seek government grants in the state budget for the implementation of various schemes of the Corporation, he added.
"He also launched a Rs 10 crore scheme to help students to study abroad which was stalled by the previous BJP government, and also a direct loan of Rs 5 lakh to 20 lakh given to start own business," the statement said.
The Minister also handed over 12 taxis, 12 autos, and four goods autos to the beneficiaries.
Khan announced setting up a task force to protect Waqf assets and steps will be taken to construct compound walls for all properties.
A divisional-level office will be set up at the local level to protect waqf properties and redress grievances at the local level, he added.
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CJI calls for 'unified judicial policy', use of technology to converge practices across courts
Jaisalmer (PTI): Pushing for a "unified judicial policy", Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said technology can help align standards and practices across courts, creating a "seamless experience" for citizens, regardless of their location.
He said high courts -- due to the federal structure -- have had their own practices and technological capacities, and "regional barriers" can be broken down with technology to create a more unified judicial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Kant proposed the idea of a "national judicial ecosystem" and called for an overhaul of India's judicial system with the integration of technology.
"Today, as technology reduces geographical barriers and enables convergence, it invites us to think of justice not as regional systems operating in parallel, but as one national ecosystem with shared standards, seamless interfaces, and coordinated goals," he said.
He emphasised how the role of technology in the judiciary has evolved over time.
"Technology is no longer merely an administrative convenience. It has evolved into a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency," he said, highlighting how digital tools can bridge gaps in the judicial system.
Kant pointed out that technology enables the judiciary to overcome the limitations of physical distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
"It allows the judiciary to transcend physical barriers and bureaucratic rigidities to deliver outcomes that are timely, transparent and principled," he said, adding that the effective use of technology can modernise the delivery of justice and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
The CJI called for implementing a "unified judicial policy".
He said India's judicial system has long been shaped by its federal structure, and different high courts have their own practices and technological capacities.
"India's vast diversity has led to different high courts evolving their own practices, administrative priorities and technological capacities. This variation, though natural in a federal democracy, has resulted in uneven experiences for litigants across the country," he said.
Kant underscored that predictability is crucial for building trust in the judicial system.
"A core expectation citizens place upon the courts is predictability," he said, adding that citizens should not only expect fair treatment but also consistency in how cases are handled across the country.
He pointed to the potential of technology in improving predictability.
"Technology enables us to track systemic delays and make problems visible rather than concealed," he said.
By identifying areas where delays occur, such as in bail matters or cases involving certain types of disputes, courts can take targeted action to address these issues and improve efficiency, Kant said.
The CJI explained that data-driven tools could identify the reasons behind delays or bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more focused solutions.
"Technology enables prioritisation by flagging sensitive case categories, monitoring pendency in real time and ensuring transparent listing protocols," he said.
Justice Surya Kant also discussed the importance of prioritising urgent cases where delays could result in significant harm. He highlighted his recent administrative order that ensures urgent cases, such as bail petitions or habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of curing defects.
"Where delay causes deep harm, the system must respond with urgency," he stated, explaining that technology can help courts identify and expedite such cases.
Kant also raised the issue of the clarity of judicial decisions.
He noted that many litigants, despite winning cases, often struggle to understand the terms of their judgment due to complex legal language.
"Although the orders had gone in their favour, they remained unsure of what relief they had actually secured because the language was too technical, vague or evasive to understand," he said.
He advocated for more uniformity in how judgments are written.
"A unified judicial approach must therefore extend to how we communicate outcomes," he said.
The CJI also discussed the role of AI and digital tools in improving case management. He pointed to the potential of AI-based research assistants and digital case management systems to streamline judicial processes.
"Emerging technological tools are now capable of performing once-unthinkable functions. They can highlight missing precedent references, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narration," he said, explaining how these technologies can help judges make more consistent decisions.
He also highlighted tools like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts, which are already helping to standardise processes like case filings and tracking.
Kant reiterated that the integration of technology into the judicial process is not just about improving efficiency but about upholding the integrity of the system and strengthening public trust.
"The measure of innovation is not the complexity of the software we deploy, but the simplicity with which a citizen understands the outcome of their case and believes that justice has been served," he said.
