Chief Minister Harish Rawat has categorically sought financial support through Centrally funded schemes in the 90:10 ratio to strengthen lower judiciary system in Uttarakhand. For this, the State needs Rs550 crore. To apprise the Prime Minister about the State judiciary system, CM said that Uttarakhand Government is very sensitive for the justice to the victims of sexual crime and State Government is also committed to strengthening its judiciary system as well.
“For this we have constituted fast track court in four districts — Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital of Uttarakhand,” he said. Rawat further stressed on the need to impart training of Hindi and regional languages to the All India Service of Judiciary. The CM sought to provide Hindi language training to the officers of All India Service because Uttarakhand was a Hindi-Speaking State. This will simplify the judicial process for the locals.
He stated that the reduction of central share in centrally funded scheme is not in the interest of Uttarakhand which has acquired the status of special State. The CM agreed on the fund which was being provided by Central Government for the construction of houses for judicial officials. The State has created full time secretary and staff for District legal service Authority in all 13 districts of the State and its recruitment is to done by the high court.
Along with State legal Services Authority, Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre and Mediation Centres have been already constructed in Uttarakhand. Permanent public courts had also been constituted. Every district has a juvenile justice board. Posts of Principal Magistrate had been created specially in large districts. The state government was constructing court building, funded by Central Government, in all districts.
Concerning the formation of family courts, the CM said that due to the extremely low number of family disputes in remote hilly areas, their constitution does not required. So funds would be used according to the proposal of high court. Increments of Judges would be based on availability of finance. The conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and presided over by the Chief Justice of Supreme Court Hl Dattu. The Judges of the High Courts and Chief Ministers of several States were also present in the conference.