GUWAHATI, June 26 � Assam has identified nine districts for setting up of shift courts (morning or evening courts) aimed at fast disposal of pending cases of petty nature.
Though the State proposes to use the existing
infrastructure facilities for the same, it may pioneer a new trend by working even on holidays, especially on second Saturdays by engaging existing staffs against additional pay.
The idea behind having the shift courts is to prioritize the cases of serious nature so that they are dealt urgently and at the same time ensure that the petty cases are also disposed of simultaneously.
State Law secretary DK Mahanta apprised the Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily about these developments during the first-ever regional meeting of the North Eastern States and the State of Sikkim for discussion on perspective/action plan for effective utilization of grants given by the 13th Financial Commission at the Administrative Staff College, Khanapara. Chief Justices of Gauhati High Court and the Sikkim High Court were also present on the occasion.
The meeting where representatives of judiciary and the executive are meeting for the first time ever to chalk out the road map for effective justice delivery system was organized by the Ministry of Law and Justice(Department of Justice).
The State has assured that it would soon have a litigation policy in the line of the National Litigation Policy released recently by the Union Government.
On having new family and CBI courts, Mahanta informed the gathering that two more CBI courts are likely to come up within this year.
�Three new family courts are also coming up in addition to the existing two,� he added.
The regional meeting was participated by representatives of the judiciary and the executive of all the Northeastern States.
The meeting had an extensive interaction session in the presence of the Union Law Minister where the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission were discussed. Issues related to E-Courts project, infrastructure development plan for courts, Gram Nyayalayas, fast track courts and setting up of more CBI and family courts were discussed. All the NE States apprised the Minister and the gathering about the present status.
The meeting also deliberated on creation of All India Judicial Service, besides reviewing the vacancies of judges in High Courts and Sub-ordinate courts.
Earlier, Union Law Minister stressed for the need to ensure that the judiciary reaches out to the poorest of the poor.
�Today�s meeting is an epoch-making event and both the judiciary and the executive must work in tandem to strengthen the justice delivery system. What agenda we set today will be the agenda of the national,� he stated.
Supreme Court judge Justice MK Sarma also took part in the meeting, besides a host of other noted personalities.
