GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Law & Justice
(DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE) 

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2257
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013 

QUESTION
Ranking in Rule of Law Index, 2012 

2257. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR: 

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: 

(a)   whether Government's attention has been drawn to the "Rule of Law Index, 2012" report by World Justice Project, which ranks India far below China, Brazil and Russia, in dispensing justice to its citizens; 

(b)   if so, the details thereof and Government's reaction thereto; and 

(c)    what corrective measures Government proposes to take in this regard? 

ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(DR. ASHWANI KUMAR) 

(a) to (c): World Justice Project (WJP), an independent non-profit organization based in United States of America, has published Rule of Law Index 2012 Report in which countries of the World including India, have been differently ranked based on a set of indicators. Since the basis for selection of the indicators as well as the details in respect of them, are not given, it is difficult to verify the veracity or justification of the rankings and make any comment. 

The Indian Judicial System has great resilience and strength in promoting Rule of Law even in the face of challenge posed by continuing high pendency in the subordinate courts. Disposal of pending cases in the courts, is within the domain of judiciary; The apex judiciary in the country has set up a National Court Management Systems (NCMS) in 2012 and the Advisory Committee of the NCMS has resolved recently to double the existing number of courts in the subordinate judiciary, with a view to reduce the pendency of cases. The Chief Justice of India has written to the Chief Justices of the High Courts for pursuing with the State Governments for increasing the number of subordinate courts to double the present strength and for providing infrastructure and staff for them. 

The Government has been assisting the judiciary in its endeavor, through a variety of measures. These include funding support for infrastructure development for the subordinate judiciary and computerization of the courts, etc. Besides, Government has set up a National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms for pursuing a coordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in the judicial administration. The Mission has devised an integrated strategy which inter alia includes better infrastructure for courts including computerisation, increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and emphasis on human resource development.