The State Government is determined to ensure that all courts function in their own buildings and none had to operate from rented premises, Law Minister Durai Murugan said here on Friday. He also claimed that the DMK Government was far more sympathetic to the cause of judiciary than the previous one.
Speaking at the function to mark the laying of foundation stone for the combined court complex here Mr. Durai Murugan said the DMK government had great respect for the judiciary and had been trying its bit for creating a better infrastructure for the judiciary to function.
Towards better and swift disposal of cases and delivery of justice, in the past four years the State Government has spent Rs.300 crore as against the Rs.23.61 crore spent during the previous five years. A total of 47 new buildings for various courts have been constructed, 46 quarters for judicial officers have been built, 116 sub-courts created besides the establishment of 56 fast track courts all in the past four years, the Minister pointed out.
On the new integrated court complex in Karur, the Minister said that efforts would be taken to ensure that the complex becomes functional at least by January end. Adequate funds to meet the additional requirements would be released, he added.
Mr. Durai Murugan stated that lawyers should be proud of their profession and refrain from acting in any manner that could bring down that reputation. Speaking after laying the foundation stone Judge, Madras High Court, Justice N. Venugopal, traced the history of courts in Kulithalai pointing out that the first Munsif Court was established here on January 7, 1871 having as its jurisdiction even Tirupattur taluk in the present Sivaganga district, some parts of Pudukkottai samasthanam, Manapparai, Musiri (both in Tiruchi district), Namakkal taluk and of course the whole of a vast Kulithalai taluk.
Justice Venugopal said that new court buildings and judicial officers' quarters would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.4.10 crore. The court building would have three floors and would have all facilities for the officers and the litigant public, he said.
Judges of the Madras High Court Justices C. Nagappan, K.N. Basha and M. Jaichandren, District Judge V. Ramamurthy, District Collector J. Uma Maheswari and others spoke.
