Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Centre objects to T.N.'s `palatial' court buildings

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI June 6. The Centre has taken exception to the Tamil Nadu Government's action in constructing fast track courts with palatial buildings in violation of the norms fixed by the Union Government, which has provided 50 per cent of the funds.

Law Ministry sources said the Centre had released Rs. 2,743.86 lakhs to Tamil Nadu, which was expected to spend and submit utilisation certificates for a cumulative Rs. 5,487.72 lakhs, including its matching share by the end of March 2001.

The State, which was released Rs. 460.13 lakhs during 2001-2002, had so far given utilisation certificate for Rs. 6,120 lakhs.

The sources said that it was found on inspection of fast track courts in Tamil Nadu that palatial court buildings had been constructed.

Also, the cost had been jacked up due to the alleged corruption and irregularities committed in the construction — thereby the unit cost of courtrooms had gone up.

The sources said that during the recent All-India Conference of Law and Home Secretaries and Registrars-General of the High Courts, this aspect was brought to Tamil Nadu's notice.

The State was categorically told that as fast track courts was a Centrally-sponsored scheme, it should follow the construction norms and guidelines and the unit cost should not exceed the limit on any account though the State might bear the additional cost.

31,412 cases disposed of

As on May 13 last, 1,074 fast track courts have been established and 635 of them have disposed of 31,412 cases out of 1,15,043 transferred to them.

The States have been asked to set up 1,734 courts in the next three months and Rs. 196.71 crores has been released to various States.

However, funds have not been released to certain States, which have not submitted the utilisation certificate.

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