“It is not proper to blame the government wholly for a few grievances the judiciary may have,” Law Minister Durai Murugan said here on Saturday.
He was responding to reporters' queries on the statement by Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, M.Y. Eqbal, reprimanding the State government for deficiencies in provision of infrastructure for magistrate courts.
Inaugurating the Vellore district conference of the Tamil Nadu Asiriyar Munnetra Sangam, Mr. Durai Murugan said that the State government had spent more than Rs.300 crore on the judiciary in the last four years. Out of the Rs.250 crore to be obtained from the Centre, the State had obtained Rs.22 crore and undertaken several works.
“We have completed whatever works the Madras High Court wanted us to do.”
The Minister said that the number of Judges in the Madras High Court was increased from 45 to 60. All vacancies in judicial officers' posts in civil courts were filled.
The government had met the demand for additional staff for courts and provided infrastructure facilities.
A total of 170 new court buildings were under construction in the State. Work on 47 new court buildings had been completed and judicial quarters constructed in 49 places.
Renovation going on
“Owing to the view that old court buildings of historic importance such as the court buildings in George Town and Saidapet should not be demolished, we are on the job of renovating these court buildings. Whoever says that the Tamil Nadu government has not done anything for the judiciary, I will not accept it,” he said.
“There may be some lapses here and there. We will rectify them if brought to our notice. Everything cannot be done simultaneously. If there are some lapses, the government must not be wholly criticised. Even if they do not praise the government, it is not good for elders to criticise the government.”
