The Supreme Court expressed its “shock and surprise” over the West Bengal government’s apparent inability to give a deadline on when it would provide court halls and residences for its subordinate judiciary.
“Where do our judges would stay? What is the budgetary allocation for judiciary in the State,” Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi asked the West Bengal side in court
The hearing was on the suo motu cognizance taken by the court about the over 5000 vacancies and abject lack of court infrastructure for subordinate judiciary across the country.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, who is amicus curiae, said 75 court halls and 39 residential units were under construction in West Bengal while 422 court rooms and 630 residences for lower court judges were required in the State.
At one point the Bench blamed the State for putting the cart before the horse. That is, discussing the budgetary allocation when the date of completion of construction of the infrastructure has not yet been decided.
The court gave the West Bengal government time till December 4 to give details on precise date for completion of the projects and put the matter for consideration on December 5.
The court also asked the Delhi government about the construction of 167 court halls, required for additional civil judges, expected to start working from July 2020 after completing their training.
