The Centre has provided Rs.
108 crore for infrastructural development of courts in States
including High Courts under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme during
the current financial year 2002-2003 as against Rs. 77.90 crore
provided during 2001-2002. The matching amount on 50:50 basis
is to be provided by the States.
Under this Scheme, 63 extension
buildings in various High Courts have been completed and work
on eight extension buildings was in progress. About 107 Judges’
residences of various High Courts have been completed and work
in respect of 150 residences was underway. As for subordinate
judiciary, 625 district court complexes have been completed and
construction work in respect of 617 rooms in district courts was
in progress. In addition, 1531 residential quarters for judicial
offices have been completed and work on 1248 residential quarters
was in progress.
The Centrally Sponsored
Scheme for improving judicial infrastructure in States was introduced
first in 1993-94 and since then it has been going on continuously.
However, of late, there have been persistent demands from several
States for increasing allotment of funds for the construction
of new High Court buildings or for additions to or extension of
the existing buildings. The demand for funds projected to this
effect by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Kerala, West Bengal,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal
is of the order of Rs. 420.74 crore.
