Gujarat marks Rs. 1649.39 crore provision for legal infra:Pardeepsinh Jadeja

New Delhi

Gujarat Law Minister Shri Pradeepsinh Jadeja today said that his Government is fully committed to infrastructure related needs of judicial system. Gujarat is making strenuous efforts to produce skilled manpower for legal process through mutual academic arrangements between its Law University and Forensic Sciences University.

In order to expedite the justice delivery system through effective e-Governance and in a time bound manner, all the courts in Gujarat are connected with prisons through video conferencing facility. This gives immense benefit to all the stakeholders, Shri Jadeja said at the working session of Chief Ministers–Chief Justices Conference here. The State Government has made adequate provisions in budget towards digitization of case records in the High Court and district courts. The courts of Gujarat are well equipped with GSWAN internet connectivity, he added.

In current financial year, Rs. 1649,39 crore budgetary provision has been made for legal department which was Rs. 141 crore in 2003-04. We are able to provide furniture and other equipments for the smooth running of the courts. The State Government has maintained the standards with space requirements and facilities needed for an efficient modern complex also, he added.

The Gujarat Minister apprised that it is universally proved that the Alternative Dispute Redressal (ADR) mechanism is a major source to eliminate the backlog of cases. Amicable settlement of disputes is very essential for the maintenance of social peace and harmony in the society. In Gujarat, more that 6.25 lakh cases have been disposed of through Lok Adalats during last three years.

Gujarat Government is also vigilant about crimes against women which are a matter of serious concern. For expeditious trial, the Special Fast Track Court should be set up to deal with the cases of heinous crimes against women like rape, dowry death, acid attack etc., the Gujarat Minister suggested. The Gujarat High Court has taken many proactive steps in this regard. The State Government has also decided to set up Family Courts at all district level, out of which 18 courts are working in different districts, he informed.

He also stated that Government of Gujarat has sanctioned 68 Family Courts to cover each district and city in the state as desired by first woman Chief Minister Smt Anandiben Patel.

He also highlighted different schemes adopted by the State Government like the “Tirth Gram Scheme” wherein a village without dispute will be given a grant of Rs. 1 lakh for development activities, “Nari Adalat” which is run by women group ensuring justice for poor women in rural area and “Samras Gram Scheme” at village level for the purpose of maintaining harmony in rural area. One “Pawan Gram Scheme” has a unique feature where if a village has no crime or dispute to its name, the development grant of Rs.50,000 is awarded to such a village.

Gujarat was a pioneer state in establishing evening courts for disposal of petty cases. From 2006 to 2014, total 9,77,956 cases were disposed of through evening courts.

Shri Jadeja urged the Union Law Minister for bringing in a mechanism to introduce mother tongue as priority language in all High Court proceedings and judgments to benefit litigants and common people.

Gujarat Legal Secretary Shri Ilesh Vora also attended the conference.

-DeshGujarat