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

 RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 247
ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013

 QUESTION
Report of National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms

247. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR: 

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

(a)   whether it is a fact that the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms aims to dispose of pending cases in three years; 

(b)   if so, the extent to which the Mission has been able to achieve its goal; 

(c)    whether the Mission's Report has pointed towards inordinate delays in investigation and prosecution of criminal cases against influential persons; and

 (d)   if so, the action taken by the Government on this report? 

ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE AND COMMUNICATIONS &
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)

 (a) & (b): Disposal of pending cases in various courts is within the domain of the Judiciary. However, with a view to assist judiciary in addressing the problem of pendency and delay, the Central Government has set up the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms in August, 2011. The Mission has twin objectives of increasing access by reducing delays and arrears in the system and enhancing accountability through structural changes and by setting performance standards and improving capacities. The Mission has adopted a coordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration by providing support for better court infrastructure including computerization, encouraging increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, recommending policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, suggesting re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and laying emphasis on human resource development. The result of various steps being undertaken by the National Mission would reflect on the improvement in justice delivery in due course of time. However, it may be mentioned here that the increasing trend of pendency of cases in Subordinate Courts has been checked and the overall pendency of cases in these Courts has declined from 2.77 crore cases in 2010 to 2.68 crore in 2012.The National Mission has a time frame of five years (2011-16). 

(c) & (d): As per the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Law Commission of India has submitted a report on Expeditious Investigation and Trial of Criminal Cases against Influential Public Personalities to Hon'ble Court in WP (C) No. 341/2004, Virender Kumar Ohri Vs Union of India and others. The matter is presently Sub-Judice.