Judicial Infrastructure: SC Directs Centre To Release Funds To States Within 2 Months [Read Order]

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Central Government to release within two months funds to the extent Utilisation Certificates have been sent by the respective State Governments and submit a compliance report to the Court.

The order came on Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi's suo motu motion to tackle the alarming number of vacancies in the subordinate judiciary across the country and the inadequacy of judicial infrastructure.

The apex court also required State Governments to submit the pending certificates within four weeks and to furnish information in this behalf to the court within a period of six weeks. In respect of these pending Utilisation Certificates, The Centre may disburse the amounts and/or give response within two months (of the certificates being supplied) and file the compliance report with the Court.

Further, the Copies of all reports submitted by the Central Government and the States/UTs to this Court would also be simultaneously sent to Amicus Vijay Hansaria.

These directions are derived from the short-term measures suggested by Mr. Hansaria regarding funding for the infrastructure of subordinate judiciary. In respect of the long-term measures compiled by the Senior Advocate, the bench has sought the response of the Centre.

Today's directions

1. the Central Government to release funds within two months to the extent Utilization Certificates have been sent by the respective State Governments and submit compliance report to this Court;

2. the State Government(s) to submit pending utilisation certificate(s) to the Central Government within four weeks and furnish information in the format annexed with the present order within a period of six weeks to this Court;

3. the Central Government may disburse the amounts and/or give response within two months of furnishing pending utilization certificates by the State Government and submit compliance report to this Court;

4. Copies of all reports submitted by the Central Government and the States/UTs to this Court would be simultaneously sent/furnished to Shri Vijay Hansaria, learned Amicus Curiaso so that in case of necessity, appropriate directions may be sought from this Court.

Read the Order Here