The Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Law Department’s proposal for the conversion of temporary posts sanctioned for ‘Fast Track Courts’ into permanent posts. This further means that 18 posts of additional district judges (ADJs) in Delhi Higher Judicial Services along with 86 posts of ancillary staff (meaning the necessary support staff required for running of courts) have been approved for the conversion.
Citing a letter written by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Prime Minister of India in 2015, requesting for reconsideration of the Centre’s stand so as to strengthen the judicial system in the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi Government said that the Government does not receive any financial assistance from the Government of India for these fast track courts.
“This was followed by three more letters to the Government of India; however no funds have been released to the Delhi government for making Fast Track Courts a permanent feature,” Sisodia added.
It may be noted that in the year 2005, the Council of Ministers had approved creation of 115 posts (viz. 20 posts of Additional District Judges alongwith 95 ancillary staff) on temporary basis, initially for a period of one year and the arrangement was to be continued on year to year basis till funds were available or if the Government of India conveyed its approval for continuance of the Fast Track Court Scheme and provided funds for the purpose.
“For further continuation of the aforementioned 115 posts, approval of the Finance Department has been obtained from time to time, and on the last occasion the Finance Department concurred the proposal for continuation of these 115 posts for a further period of one year beyond from April 2014 to March 2015,” Quoted Delhi government statement. It is pertinent to mention here that there are five fast track courts functioning in Delhi to deal with criminal matters.