IMPROVING JUSTICE DELIVERY
SYSTEM
While the Government
is awaiting the report of Shri Justice V.S. Mallimath Committee
on comprehensive changes in the existing criminal justice system,
a series of steps have been taken to simplify procedures and speed
up disposal of cases on the basis of recommendations of expert
bodies like the Law Commission.
Steps have been taken
to dispose of petty offences like traffic cases through appointment
of Special Judicial/Metropolitan Magistrates and adoption of alternative
modes of disputes resolution, such as, arbitration and conciliation.
Lok Adalats have been given a statutory base as supplementary
forum for resolution of disputes. By an amendment effected in
the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, public utilities like
telephone services including billings, electric and water supply,
public transport, motor vehicle accidents, civic amenities, insurance
and such other public utility services have been brought for resolution
of disputes in these areas by permanent Lok Adalats. To begin
with, public utility services valued upto Rs. 10 lakhs would be
adjudicated in the event of disputes by the permanent Lok Adalats.
Extensive amendments
to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 have been brought into force
with effect from July 1, 2002, which include fixing of time frame
at various stages of civil suit, taking evidence through commissions,
restriction of adjournments to three in a suit and delivery of
judgement within 60 days after hearing, thus, compressing all
stages of civil litigation from institution to disposal in one
year’s time frame.
Efforts are also been
made to improve the infrastructure of all courts including the
district courts through extensive use of information technology
to speed up the delivery of justice and improve access to courts
through the use of e-mail, internet and other modern means of
communication.
The
computerized inquiry and facilitation centers have been set up
in the Supreme Court and most of the High Courts. A pilot project
is being implemented in four major metro cities of Delhi, Chennai,
Kolkata and Mumbai with facility
for electronic filing of cases and retrieval of copies of court
orders through the internet. The project will develop the facility
to enable parties to know the status of their cases through internet.
