The Hindu : 'Centre unhappy with TN for over-spending on judiciary'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2002

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National

'Centre unhappy with TN for over-spending on judiciary'

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI Nov. 11. Even as the conference of the State Law and Home Secretaries and the Registrars-General of High Courts is slated for November 13 to review the ``Centrally-sponsored scheme for improving judicial infrastructure,'' the Centre has taken exception to Tamil Nadu for constructing "palatial'' court buildings at "excess unit cost.''

Under the scheme — launched in 1993-94 — the Centre provides funds to the States for constructing new court halls and residential quarters for judicial officers and creating infrastructure. An equal amount is contributed by the States.

As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, up to March 31, 2002, the State should have spent only Rs. 595.7 crores, including its share of Rs. 297.8 crores. But as per the ``cumulative utilisation certificate'' sent by the State, it has spent a total of Rs. 935.9 crores, thus exceeding its share.

Sources in the Law Ministry told The Hindu that though the Centre had lauded Tamil Nadu's efforts to accelerate the pace of providing judicial infrastructure, it felt that the State had spent over and above the ``unit cost'' recommended by the Centre for each court building and residential quarters for judges. The State, it felt, had unnecessarily constructed "palatial'' court buildings and inflated the cost, which was unwarranted.

The Union Finance Ministry had brought this to the notice of the Law Ministry and objected to the over-spending. And the Law Ministry had sought an explanation from the State, the sources said.

Some States had not utilised the Centre's grant properly. In view of this, the Centre intended to discuss this issue during the conference on Wednesday, to be presided over by the Union Law Minister, Jana Krishnamurthi.

The inordinate delay by some States in filling the vacancies in fast track courts, resulting in the accumulation of arrears of 2.4 crore cases in the subordinate courts, and the issue of filling vacancies of judges in the High Courts would also be discussed.

The meeting would review the progress and utilisation of funds for fast track courts, disposal of cases by the High Courts and subordinate courts, the pilot project of computerisation and networking of courts in the four metropolitan cities.

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