CJI Surya Kant constitutes committee to map infrastructural requirements for courts; seeks ₹40,000-50,000 crore funds

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has constituted a Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee to map the infrastructural requirements of courts across India and make a case for a government allocation of ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 crore for judiciary.

The committee has been tasked to prepare a report on the infrastructural requirements and submit the same to Sanjeev Sanyal, member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Economic Advisory Council, by August 31.

Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court will chair the committee. Besides Justice Kumar, the committee also includes Calcutta High Court Justice Debangsu Basak, Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Bombay High Court Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan, Central Public Works Department Director General and Supreme Court's Secretary General.

The committee's mandate covers seven areas:

- identifying constraints faced by duty-holders of the justice delivery system;

- suggesting adequate infrastructure for judges, lawyers, litigants, and visitors;

- recommending technology for faster case disposal;

- computerisation of courts as a step towards e-courts;

- citizen-centric services to bridge the digital divide;

- setting up modern court complexes; and

- improving working conditions for judicial officers and staff.