Bangalore, Aug 1 (DHNS): Law Minister Veerappa Moily on Saturday drew a road map for the Indian judicial system that would involve a massive investment to improve court infrastructure, a plan to dispose pending cases in three years and rid the judiciary of black sheep.
The Central Government planned to spend nearly Rs 15,000 crores in the next four years to improve the infrastructure in all courts of the country, he said a conference of advocates and human rights delegates on "Law as an instrument of Economic and Social Change" organised by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee's Legal and Human Rights Cell here on Saturday.
The Union Cabinet was considering the 13th Finance Commission recommendation to invest Rs 5,000 crores on infrastructure in High Courts, and Rs 10,000 on lower courts.
With a view to promote legal education and research by preparing the faculty and improving the curriculum, the Centre was considering setting up five regional consultative centres in Delhi, Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, and Goa, Moily said.
On the delay in delivery of justice, Moily said the Centre was working out a scheme in consultation with the Chief Justice of India to see to it that all cases were disposed of within three years.
New Law Schools
Further, 14 National Law School of Universities would be set up in different parts of the country in the coming years. The Centre would also upgrade the infrastructure in 933 law colleges across the country.
Taking a tough stand against tainted and corrupt judges, Moily said that the Centre would ensure that they were removed within the next two months.
Moreover, legislation would be brought to punish dishonest judges against whom complaints were received from the public, he said. Judges would be recruited solely on the basis of seniority and merit.
The Law Minister exhorted the lawyers to make optimum utilisation of the Right To Information (RTI) Act and expose the corruption in the administration. On the highly controversial issue of honour killing, the Minister said a bill to prevent such crimes would be drafted soon.
No SC branch in City
Presiding over the function, All India Congress Committee Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi opposed the demand for establishing a branch of the Supreme Court in Bangalore. "It will dilute the integrity of the apex court," he observed.
He also said that a welfare support scheme for lawyers on retirement was required for meeting their medical needs and livelihood.
Retirement age
Criticising the BJP's opposition to increasing the retirement age of judges of high courts from 62 to 65 years, Singhvi said the party was acting like a "hypocrite".
He said the retirement age of judges of the Supreme Court should not be increased.
Former Union Minister Oscar Fernandes also spoke on the occasion. C M Dhananjaya, Chairman, KPCC Legal and Human Rights Cell and others were present.