In order to fast-track the disposal of over 2.7 crore pending cases with the subordinate judiciary in the country, the Supreme Court on Monday decided to set up a “special bench” to monitor the improvement of judicial infrastructure with the lower courts, including the appointment of judges.
As the lack of bare minimum facilities with the lower courts is proving a major hindrance in improving the disposal rate while nearly 3,000 posts of judicial officers remain vacant in a calendar year, a bench, headed by Chief Justice of India S.H. Kapadia directed that the “special bench” would monitor the improvement of judicial infrastructure by the states on the same line as the “green bench” was created in 1996 to save the forests.
The CJI sitting in a bench with Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar directed that the special bench, which would hold court every Monday, would take up the issue state-wise. The assistance of chief secretary of the state concerned and the registrar general of the high court of concerned jurisdiction wou-ld be sought with reports form them regarding steps taken to improve the judicial infrastructure and appointment of judges, it said.
The apex court order assumes significance as it came soon after law minister Veerappa Moily had announced the “national litigation policy” with the focus on reducing pendency of cases filed by government, which has emerged as the biggest litigant in the country.