Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought “substantial support” from the Centre for improving judicial infrastructure, pointing out that the 14th Finance Commission had not recommended grant-in-aid to States.
Speaking at the joint conference of Chief Ministers of States and Chief Justices of the High Courts in New Delhi on Sunday, he said that Karnataka had sought Rs. 4,461 crore to improve judicial infrastructure which had not been met. The fiscal space provided by tax devolution was not adequate to make up for “drastic reduction” in Centrally-sponsored scheme grants, he added.
Karnataka’s plans included doubling the number of judges and courts, besides training of judicial officers and public prosecutors and court managers. He pointed out that MBA graduates were appointed as court managers to assist the judges in administrative duties with the 13th Finance Commission grants. Their services were continued only on ad hoc basis in anticipation of assistance from Centre, he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the State government and the High Court of Karnataka were not in favour of creating All-India Judicial Services in the State, a stand already communicated to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. He said the State Bar Council and the State Judicial Academy should motivate young lawyers and in-service judicial officers for appointment to the posts of district judges through orientation workshops.
Both the State government and
the High Court of Karnataka are not
in favour of
creating All-India Judicial Services in the State and
this stand has already been communicated to
the Union Ministry
of Law and JusticeSiddaramaiah,Chief Minister of Karnataka
