Department Does Not Centrally Maintain Any Data On Number Of Courts Having Separate Toilets For Women & Transgender Respectively, Law Ministry

It was, however, informed that the Supreme Court's Registry has compiled data on the status of judicial infrastructure and court amenities, according to which 74% court complexes have separate ladies toilets, while 84% have gents toilets. It was added that while extending the scheme, new components have been included such as Lawyers Halls, Digital Computer Rooms and also to cover the construction of toilets, in the district and subordinate courts and Rs.47.00 crore has been allocated for the construction of Toilet complexes in the District and Subordinate Courts for a period of 5 years i.e. 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The aforesaid information was provided by Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in response to the following questions raised by MP:

"(a) the details of infrastructure created under Scheme for Development of Infrastructure for Judiciary along with the expected time by which completion of the projects is likely to be completed, State-wise;

b) whether the funds allocated and spent in creation of Judicial infrastructure is consistent with growing Information Technology needs, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(c) the number of courts at all levels that have computers for each judge with video-conferencing facilities;

(d) the number of courts at each level having separate toilets for women and transgender respectively; and

(e) other initiatives taken by the Government to improve the State of Judicial Infrastructure?"

The Law Minister stated that a sum of Rs. 8758.71 crore has been released under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary so far since its inception, out of which Rs. 5314.40 crore (60.68 %) has been released since 2014-15. He added that the Scheme has been extended from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 9000 crore including Central share of Rs. 5307.00 crore. Besides the construction of Court Halls and Residential Quarters, the Scheme now also covers the construction of Lawyers' Halls, Digital Computer Rooms and Toilet Complexes in the District and Subordinate Courts, he added.

Further, he stated that the release of funds under the Scheme is supplementary in nature and project-wise funds are not released under the Scheme. He informed that as on date 20,812 Court Halls and 18,338 Residential Units are available in District and Subordinate Courts. A web portal and mobile app named "Nyaya Vikas" has been developed for online monitoring of construction projects under the above scheme which was launched in 2018. "Nyaya Vikas Version 2.0", with upgraded features, was launched in April, 2020, he added.

Moreover, he informed that eCourts Mission in Mode Project has been implemented throughout the country for Information and Communication enablement of district and subordinate courts. In the phase I, out of total outlay of Rs.935 cr, the Government incurred an expenditure of Rs.639.41 cr, while in Phase II, out of total outlay of Rs.1670 crore, a sum of Rs.1668.42 crores has been released as on 28.03.2022 to various organizations involved in the project' implementation, he also added.

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also stated,

"One video conference equipment each has been provided to all Court Complexes including taluk level courts and additionally funds have been sanctioned for additional VC equipment for 14.443 court rooms. Funds for setting up 2506 VC Cabins have been made available. Additional 1500 VC Licences have been acquired. VC facilities are already enabled between 3240 court complexes and corresponding 1272 jails. A sum of Rs.7.6 crore has been released for procurement of 1732 Document Visualizers."

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