Chandigarh, December 11: Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that the State Government has prepared a Litigation Policy on the pattern of Central Government and the proposal to set up 96 Evening Courts has been approved. Also, facility of video conferencing has been provided in 32 courts and 25 jails. The Government has also set up Counseling and Conciliation Centres in all districts of the State to facilitate the people.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the inaugural function of judicial complex constructed at a cost of Rs 3.37 crore at Ellenabad. The judicial complex was inaugurated by the senior most Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice Ranjan Gogoi.Mr Hooda also called upon the advocate fraternity to help in reducing the number of cases in the courts and play important role in providing quick, timely and economical justice to the people.
Emphasising on the importance of judicial system, Mr. Hooda said that good law and order and credible judicial system is the basic requirement for any democracy. He said that the state government has taken a number of initiatives to strengthen the infrastructure for the judicial system in the state so that the needy people could get prompt justice at their doorstep. He said that four evening courts have been set up at Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hisar and Karnal. ‘Gram Nyayalayas’ are being established at Rania and Shahabad. He said that family courts have also been set up at Gurgaon, Faridabad, Hisar and Bhiwani to settle family and marriage disputes. Also, 16 fast track courts have been sanctioned and 11 such courts have started functioning and have so far solved 31000 cases. First mobile court of the country, which was started in district Mewat has been functioning well.
Mr Hooda said that the state Congress government after its formation has sanctioned Rs.212 crore so far for providing judicial infrastructure in the state. Most of the amount has already been spent for providing judicial complexes and houses. He said that the earlier non Congress government had spent merely Rs.27 crore for the same, which was nine times less.
The Chief Minister said that new judicial complexes have been set up in 19 districts, while in two new districts of Palwal and Mewat, are in the advanced stage of completion. Being a lawyer, he was aware of their problems and has taken a number of initiatives. With a view to provide residential accommodation to lawyers, reservation has been made in new sectors of the Haryana Urban Development Authority, he added.
The Chief Minister also announced to give Rs 10 lakh for furniture, computer and books for the library in the new judicial complex. Local Congress MP Dr. Ashok Tanwar also announced Rs. five lakh for the same. Mr Hooda also announced to provide land for the advocates chambers.
Addressing the judges, judicial officers and advocates, the senior most Judge and the designate Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that Haryana government led by Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda has provided good judicial infrastructure and he was sure that he would continue to support.
Calling upon the legal fraternity to increase the credibility of judicial system, Mr Justice Gogai said ‘it is a beautiful court complex. This is a good occasion in a remote part of Haryana, let us make beginning, let us forget the past. The people need quick, timely and cheap justice. It is possible to make judicial system more credible. Let us resolve. As far as the High Court is concerned, I assure you on behalf of my colleagues, that what is required to be done at our level will be done. As far as the state government is concerned, you cannot have more cooperative approach than we have seen in the last couple of years. As the Chief Minister has given details of the steps taken by the state government to improve the infrastructure. I am sure that we will continue to get the same support”.
The President of Punjab and Haryana High Court Building Construction Committee, Justice S.K. Mittal said that the state of Haryana has judicial court in every 20 kilometre and nowhere else in the country such beautiful court complexes at the sub-divisional level were available.
Local MP. Dr. Ashok Tanwar said that we are now at cross roads and it was the time to introspect. In the light of recent controversies involving judiciary, media, politics and executives, we should decide the right direction. He also thanked the chief Minister Mr Hooda for bringing justice at the ‘tail-end’ of the state.
Earlier, Mr Justice Gogoi and the Chief Minister planted saplings in the premises of the judicial complex.
Mr. Justice, Alok Singh, Mr Justice, MS Sullar, Mr Justice, Rajesh Bindal, Mr Justice, R.K. Jain, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Prahahad Singh Gillankhera, Home Secretary, Mr Samir Mathur, former Minister, Mr Ranjit Singh, Punjab & Haryana Bar Council Chairman, Mr Gurinder Singh, Secretary, Mr Rajeev Kaswan, Local Bar council President Mr J.S. Randhawa, former OSD, Dr. K.V. Singh, former MLA, Mr Bharat Singh Beniwal, Mr Jadish Nehra, Mr Mani Ram Keharwala, District Congress President, Mr Malkit Khosa, Congress leader, Mr Hoshiari Lal Sharma were also present on the occasion.