KL Report
JAMMU
Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah today said that the government is considering establishing 18 fast track courts of which 8 of the rank of district and sessions Judges and 10 fast track courts of the rank of Civil Judges (Senior Division) to clear the pendency of cases and provide speedy justice to the needy.
The minister said this while winding up the discussion on the demand of grants of departments of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs in the legislative assembly today.
The minister said that the government was going to establish a Law Commission in the state in 2013 to help the government to make new laws. The members of the Commission would get suggestions from people and submit their recommendations to government, he said.
The Minister said the government was implementing state Litigation Policy in letter and spirit for helping general public in getting speedy justice and timely disposal of their cases. He said the performance of government advocates, public prosecutors and standing counsels is reviewed periodically through this policy. He said the J&K High Court has fixed time period for disposal of old cases in civil as well as criminal matters adding that action has already been initiated in this regards. He said day to day monitoring is also being held in criminal case.
Highlighting the achievements of the Law Department, Mir Saifullah said the department has constituted a committee comprising advocate general, secretary, law, some senior officers of law department and two eminent advocates to examine the existing laws and suggests measures to amend the same and remove the obsolete laws from the statute book. The committee has also been asked to consider the private members bills of legislators.
The Minister said that the department has moved drafts of some new laws, keeping in view the industrialization, advancement in information technology, increasing offences against women and offences relating to narcotics and drugs.
Referring to Verma Commission, Mir Saifullah said after preparing a draft of the bill, it has been submitted to government for consideration. Mir Saifullah said the department was keen to ensure speedy disposal of pending cases and has adopted certain measures in this regards. He said the department has recently appointed 5 High Court Judges and 7 District and Session Judges, besides 4 vacancies of District and Session Judges and 10 Munsiffs stand referred to recruiting agency. He said the department is establishing 14 Sub-Judge and 22 Munsiff Courts at different places of the state adding that further expansion of Court is under process and would be extended to every Block Headquarters.
Referring to establishment of Deh Adalats, the Minister said that one each court of Dehi Adalat would be established in the 22 districts of the state in the Phase-I. He said that the government has initiated a training programme for the Judicial Officers within the state Judicial Academy and outside the state. He said the department organized 505 Lok Adalats during current fiscal in which 9633 cases were settled and compensation to the tune of Rs 11.56 crore was disbursed to the victims or their survivors. He said the department has also settled 3545 cases by organizing Mega Lok Adalats at district and tehsil levels with mutual consensus and awarded Rs 459 lakh as compensation.
Referring to the functioning of State Human Rights Commission, Mir Saifullah said the vacant post of Chairperson and a Member would be filled up soon to strengthen the Commission. The Commission has received 424 complaints and disposed of 208 cases so far, he said.
The Minister said for bringing proficiency and promptness in department, the government appointed and promoted various officers in different cadres. He also highlighted the achievements of Urdu Cell in translating some important documents for the benefit of general masses particularly for legal luminaries. He also made a mention of revision of salary, housing, and car loans for Legislators. He said a circular has already been issued by the GAD on the directions of Chief Minister to retain the protocol of Legislators in Government and public functions. He said a consultative Committee would also be constituted to review the functioning of the Department. He said a proposal has been prepared to computerize the Assembly and Council records. A proposal to enhance the pension of ex-legislators would also be moved in the House.
Mir Saifullah said that the voter lists have already been updated and rectified if any deficiency found.
Earlier, the Minister moved that a sum of Rs 289.46 crore be granted to the government to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014.
