Dr.M.Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that the Government has taken various measures to provide speedy justice to common man. With a view to ensuring expeditious disposal of cases, a ‘Vision Statement’ indicating an Action Plan was presented in the ‘National Consultation for strengthening of Judiciary towards Reducing pendency and Delays’. It is expected that the period of pendency of cases in the courts will reduce from an average of 15 years to an average of three years by 2012 after the National Mission gives effect to its strategies to fully implement the Action Plan envisaged in the Vision Statement, the Minister said.
The Minister further informed the House that the Government has also accepted the recommendations of the thirteenth Finance Commission to provide a grant of Rs.5000 crore to the States for improving the justice delivery system in the country. The first instalment of Rs.500 crore has already been released to the States. With the help of these grants, the States can, inter-alia, set up morning/evening/shift/special magistrates’ courts, also organise more Lok Adalats and strengthen alternate dispute resolution mechanism with a view to reducing court pendencies.
Dr.Moily informed the Lok Sabha that the Government has enacted the Gram Nyayalayas Act 2008, which provides for setting up of Gram Nyayalyas at Panchayat level. Over 5000 Gram Nyayalayas are expected to be established across the country. As on 31.7.2010, the States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa and Maharashtra, taken together, have notified 144 Gram Nyayalayas out of which 47 have been made operational till date. These Nyayalayas will provide affordable and accessible justice to the common man particularly those in the rural areas, the Minister said.
