Parliament Watch: Judge to population ratio, interception of messages, Sedition law and more [Day 10 round up]

Day ten of the 2021 Winter Session of Parliament saw responses from the Central government on topics ranging from judge-to-population ratio, sedition laws and more. .A question was tabled before the Lok Sabha by two Members of Parliament (MPs) on whether there is an amendment proposed to include educational institutions within the ambit of “workplace“ of the POSH Act by the National Commission for Women (NCW).Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani responded that the POSH Act was enacted to extend protection to women regardless of their work status and that the definition of "workplace" in the Act extends to educational institutions as well.“...no such specific amendment has been proposed by the National Commission for Women,” the response stated. .Several questions were raised by three MPs on the ratio of judges per million population and the steps proposed to be taken by the government to increase the number of judges and the funds required for the same. Another ancillary question regarding problems faced by fast track courts in speedy disposal of cases was also put forth.Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, responding to the questions. stated, “The judge to population ratio (Judge / per million population) with respect to sanctioned strength of judges is 21.03 as on October 31, 2021.”.On the question raised about disposal of cases by fast track courts, the response stated,“As per data provided by the High Courts up to October, 2021, total 914 Fast Track Courts are functional in 23 States/UTs. The Department of Justice is implementing a scheme for setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including 389 Exclusive POCSO Courts for expeditious trial and disposal of cases related to rape and POCSO Act. This Centrally Sponsored Scheme started in October, 2019 for 1 year period. It has now been extended for further two years up to 31.03.2023 at a total cost of Rs. 1572.86 crore with Central share of Rs.971.70 crore. As per information provided by the High Courts for the month of October 2021, a total of 681 FTSCs including 381 exclusive POCSO courts are functional in 27 States/UTs across the country.”.In a question tabled in the Upper House by Trinamool Congress MP Jawahar Sircar on whether reasons are recorded in writing or orders taken from authorities prior to interception of any message under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan mentioned, “The orders for interception under Section 5 (2) of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 are issued with the approval of the competent authority as per sub-rule (1) of Rule 419A of Indian Telegraph (1st Amendment of 2014) Rules, 2014. As per sub-rule (2) of these Rules, these orders contain the reasons for such direction.”On the question of whether the government is aware of any 'unlawful learning of the contents of any message' under Section 23 of the Act and of any authorised official unlawfully intercepting any message in terms of Section 26 of the Act, the response was given in the negative..Answering a question on whether Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (Sedition) will be scrapped, Law Minister Rijiju categorically stated that no such proposal is under the Central government's consideration.This response comes after the apex court questioned the need for the provision to remain on the statute books and after a prominent former judge called for its scrapping..No proposal to scrap Sedition laws under consideration: Central government in Parliament.A question regarding the revival of the proposed All India Judicial Services (AIJS) to recruit judges on the lines of the civil services came up before the Lok Sabha. While responding to the question, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju revealed the sharp divergence in views among state governments and High Courts in implementing the same..[All India Judicial Services] 8 States, 13 High Courts not in favour; 13 states yet to respond