Govt to spend Rs 1,000 cr for NxtGen legal-eco system

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) Committed to pursue the next generation of legal reforms and create a new legal-eco system, government will spend Rs 1,000 crore on electronically connecting courts in the country, right from the Supreme Court to the level of district courts, Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj said today.

''In the next three to four years, we will implement a state-of-the art e-governance connecting all the courts. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has given me Rs 1,000 crore to implement these reforms,'' Mr Bhardwaj said at a conference on partnership between business and law here.

The conference which was presided over by Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani, was jointly organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) and the Society for Indian Law Firms (SILF).

Mr Bhardwaj said the Indian law firms would have great business opportunities in the areas of the Special Economic Zones, power sector and ports and airports. Foreign investment is coming in all these areas and there would be requirements of well-drafted legal agreements.

In his address, Mr Ambani asked the Indian law firms to be outward looking and tap a vast outsourcing opportunity knocking at India. Of the estimated 250 billion dollar global legal services market, as much as 65 per cent could be outsourced of which India can tap close to 20 billion dollar.

At present, India is doing legal outsourcing to the extent of 61 million dollar only.

He called for a healthy partnership between business and law, saying it is not only desirable but neccessary. The relevance of the legal system would rise from advice to active educacy, he added.

Mr Ambani was also honoured with the 'Outstanding Corporate Leader Award-2006' and a citation by the SILF.

The Union Minister for Law was conferred the 'Assocham Award of Distinction' by the Chamber President Anil K Agarwal.

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