JUDICIAL infrastructure is important for improving access to justice, but it is baffling to note that its improvement and maintenance was being carried out in an ad-hoc and unplanned manner in the country, Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said on Saturday. Noting that an effective judiciary can help in the effective growth of economy, the CJI said courts are extremely essential for any society that is governed by the rule of law. CJI Ramana was speaking at the inauguration of two wings of the annexe building at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju and others were present on the occasion. The CJI said today’s success should not blind us to the issues that exist. “We are faced with certain hard facts like several courts do not have proper facilities. Some courts function out of dilapidated buildings. Judicial infrastructure is important for improving access to justice,” he said.

 

“It is baffling to note that the improvement and maintenance of judicial infrastructure is still being carried out in an ad-hoc and unplanned manner,” CJI Ramana added. He further said that the building that was inaugurated at Aurangabad on Saturday was envisioned in 2011. “That it has taken 10 years for this vision to be implemented is extremely worrisome. This is a deeper problem that has plugged our judicial infrastructure planning in our country since the Independence,” the CJI said. Good infrastructure for courts in India has always been an afterthought, he said, adding, “It is because of this mindset that courts in India still operate from dilapidated structures making it difficult to effectively perform their function.. Judicial infrastructure is important for improving access to justice and to meet the growing demands of public that is more aware of its rights and is developing economically, socially, and culturally.” “An effective judiciary can aid in the effective growth of the economy,” he said.

 

The CJI also quoted an international research published in 2018, which stated that failure to deliver timely justice cost the country as much as 9 per cent of the annual GDP. “Moreover, the impact of an under-supported judiciary is also seen on foreign investments. Without adequate infrastructure, we cannot aspire to fill this gap,” he said. If we want a different outcome from the judicial system, we cannot continue to work in these circumstances. An integral aspect, in this regard, is the financial autonomy of the judiciary, the CJI said. The CJI said he has sent a proposal for the establishment of the National Judicial Infrastructural Authority to the Union Minister of Law and Justice, and added that he was hoping for a positive response and the issue is taken up during the upcoming winter session of the Parliament.