Efforts On to Ensure Easy, Accessible & Affordable Judicial System, says Law Minister Rijiju in RS

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 17th March. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the government is working to ensure an easy, accessible, and affordable judicial system for people from socially and economically backward classes.

He stated that state governments are primarily responsible for the development of infrastructure facilities, including facilitating accessibility for people with benchmark disabilities.

“The Central government only supplements the resources of the states in this regard through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Judicial Infrastructure in district and subordinate courts,” the statement quoted the minister as saying.

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the development of infrastructure facilities for the Judiciary, funds are provided for the construction of court buildings, residential units, lawyers’ halls, toilet complexes and digital computer rooms for the convenience of lawyers and litigants, the statement informed further.

“However, funds are released to states/UTs only when their project proposals mandatorily comply with disable-friendly norms/accessibility standards as laid down by CPWD/Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,” he said.

Rijiju further said a certificate to this effect has also been sought for from states as part of the CSS guidelines.

Under the Scheme, the states have enough liberty to provide for additional facilities including those that facilitate easy accessibility for persons with benchmark disabilities to the court premises, read the statement further.