Sunday, April 7, 2013

Hooda for formation of All India Judicial Service



 by Haryananewswire
CHANDIGARH, APRIL 7
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has supported the formation of an All India Judicial Service. He also said that a separate High Court for Haryana is the Constitutional right of the State and it can be realized by bifurcating the existing premises, judges and staff of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “This will not only answer the aspirations of the people of the state but would also help strengthen the judicial system in Haryana”, he added.
Mr Hooda, who was addressing the conference of Chief Ministers of states and Chief Justices of High Courts in New Delhi, today.
          Mr Hooda also demanded that the ratio of judges between the two states in the Punjab and Haryana High Court should be adjusted in keeping with the recent trend that more litigation cases are originating from Haryana than Punjab. The trend must be duly reflected in the number of posts of judges assigned to Haryana. It would be appropriate that the present ratio of 60:40 of judges be changed to 50:50 between Punjab and Haryana.
Mr Hooda also supported the initiative of the National Court Management System and said that we further support all efforts to create a National Judicial Data Grid as a part of e-Courts programme.  However, its interface with Government departments may also be encouraged so as to derive maximum benefits this initiative.
       Refering to the main concerns, including pendency of cases, vacancies in courts, lack of infrastructure in courts and the need to modernize systems, Mr Hooda said the Haryana Government was fully committed to implementing recommendations of the previous conferences.
The state has never let deficiency of funds or resources come in the way of achieving the Constitutional mandate of speedy justice. A judicial academy has been set up with the joint funding of the Punjab
Government for up-gradation of skills and enhancing the capabilities of judicial officers and others engaged in legal profession.
  The Chief Minister said that apart from increasing the number of judges, courts and improving the infrastructure, steps should be taken to reduce litigation. Realsing that even marginal changes in the
functioning of the executive can help reduce litigation, Haryana notified its Litigation Policy in 2010 and the experiment has been very positive.
     The key strategies being adopted to minimize litigation  are: (a) Avoiding litigation through  efficient and transparent decision making, (b) Quick response to representations; (c) Managing and
monitoring litigation through IT based decision support systems; (d) Capacity building; (e) Alternative methods of dispute settlement; (f) Improving infrastructure, quality of manpower, systems and procedures etc.
       Easy and low-cost access to justice is an essential feature of democratic system. The Haryana State Legal Services Authority has been spearheading the process of creating legal awareness and assisting the disadvantaged sections to enhance their access and confidence in the process of law. Advocates on the panel of district authorities and sub-district level legal services committees are regularly holding legal literacy camps in jails for prisoners, in juvenile homes,
shelter homes, old age homes.
Steps have also been taken to enlighten our youth about their
duties and rights as enshrined in the laws of the nation. A Student
Legal Literacy Mission has been initiated to create awareness among
the students. Legal Literacy Clubs have been opened in 1544 government schools and 171 colleges. Legal Aid Clinics have also been established in all law colleges and law universities. A legal services helpline has been launched on toll free telephone numbers and Lok Adalats started in all districts. The regular courts, after court hours, get converted into daily Lok Adalats for settlement of disputes.
       Haryana has taken the lead in setting   up family courts, environment courts, accidents tribunals, consumer courts.
Alternative forums in the form of public utility adalats, taxation tribunals, electricity regulatory commission, Lokayukta, environment appellate tribunal, have helped reduce cases before regular
courts. “The Haryana Human Rights Commission is our recent initiative consistent with this approach”, Mr Hooda said.
        Referring to the steps taken to prevent crime against women, Mr Hooda said, “We believe that the process of justice starts well before the concern of courts begins. Prevention of crime against women
is one such example.  We are committed to ensuring complete safety and protection of women and a number of steps have been taken by us in this regard”.
In order to closely monitor cases pertaining to crime against women in general and Scheduled Castes women in particular, the state government has appointed an Additional Director General of Police exclusively for this purpose. A lady Deputy Superintendent of Police or an Inspector of Police has been deputed in each district as a nodal officer to coordinate all actions with regard to crime against women. A four-digit Women Helpline No. 1091 has been activated. To provide instant help to women in distress, 30 Police Control Room (PCR) vans exclusively staffed by women police officials have been put in
operation. Women police officers are deputed to handle, monitor and investigate rape cases. While two Mahila Police Stations have been established, four more are being set up.
       With a view to bringing about reduction in the arrears and speedy trial of cases, Haryana has created 14 posts of Additional Senior Judges and 140 Assistant Public Prosecutors are being recruited. The issue of doubling the existing number of courts in subordinate judiciary requires serious consideration.
“We welcome the Central Government’s suggestion that fast-track courts should be provided funds from the 13th Finance Commission.  I am glad to state that Fast Track Courts are performing very well in Haryana”,
the Chief Minister said. The state whole-heartedly supported all measures for greater sensitization of the judiciary. Haryana has implemented most recommendations of the previous conferences, Mr Hooda added.

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