TB Jayachandra : Fund crunch has crippled lower courts

BENGALURU: The Union government has informed the state government that it would not release matching grants to provide infrastructure to lower judiciary. During the inaugural session of joint conference of Chief Justices and Chief Ministers, New Delhi informed all states that they would have to incur expenditure to create infrastructure for the judiciary.

'Speaking to this newspaper, law minister T.B. Jayachandra who attended the meeting on behalf of the Chief Minister, said the Union government declined to sanction matching grants to Karnataka to help provide infrastructure to lower courts including constructions of court buildings.

 “Karnataka has sought Rs. 400 crores grant from the Union government as matching grant for expenditure incurred so far, but the request was turned down. Besides, the state was informed that it should utilize the amount from its share released on the basis of recommendations of 14th finance commission,” Mr. Jayachandra said adding “without assistance from the Union government, the state cannot take the burden of the entire amount. In the meeting, I have requested the Union government to release matching grants to Karnataka to take up pending projects in the state.”

The state government has earmarked Rs. 671 crore for 2016-17. This amount would be utilized for Advocates Association in the state and districts. Besides, the government has decided to build 22 family courts in a phased manner. But it has not given specific assurance to construct the court buildings and providing infrastructure.

The minister said, “many lower courts situated in taluks do not have own buildings and those courts do not have adequate infrastructure to function. We need own court buildings at taluk-level, so we have sought Rs. 400 crores from the Union government.”

Karnataka has sent a proposal to the Supreme Court for appointment of 13 additional judges to the high court, but file has been pending with the Union law and justice department, he said.