Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, has established a Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee to assess the infrastructure needs of courts nationwide. The committee, led by Supreme Court judge Aravind Kumar, aims to secure a government allocation of approximately Rs 40,000-50,000 crore for this purpose. An interim report is due by August 31.
The panel, which includes judges from various high courts and officials from the Central Public Works Department and the Supreme Court, will identify infrastructural gaps in courts. It will focus on modernizing judicial facilities, enhancing efficiency in justice administration, and recommending technology-driven solutions for quicker case resolutions.
Among its objectives, the committee will address challenges faced by stakeholders in the justice system, propose suitable infrastructure for judges, lawyers, litigants, and visitors, and suggest technology interventions for expedited case handling. It will also evaluate issues like court computerization, citizen-centric digital services, modern court complex setups, and improved working conditions for judicial officers and staff.
The initiative gains importance in light of the increasing emphasis on judicial infrastructure and court digitization nationwide. The government’s e-Courts Mission Mode Project is driving the digitization of the judiciary, with Rs 7,210 crore allocated for Phase-III (2023-2027) to transition Indian courts into digital entities.
