Fast Track Court Clear Over Million Cases

New Delhi, Dec 8 (UNI) Fast Track Courts have disposed of more than a million of 1.82 million cases transferred to them, Parliament was told by Minister of State for Law and Justice K Venkatapathy today.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Venkatapathy said the 1,562 FTCs set up by the State governments for long pending Sessions cases were extended financial support on March 31, 2005 for five more years.

He said the government has ''no proposal under consideration'' to enhance the coverage in terms of number of the FTCs.

As on October 31, 2006, these FTCs had disposed of 10,43,022 cases out of 18,22,684 cases transferred to them, Mr Venkatapathy said.

Nearly 30 million cases are estimated to be pending before some 14,000 courts across India. FTCs were set up in an effort to deal with such high pendency.

As early as 1987, the Law Commission recommended an almost five fold increase in the number of judges, Mr Venkatapathy told another Member.

The 120th Commission Report suggested raising the prevalent strength of 10.5 judges per one million population to 50 judges per million population, he recalled.

He said after the last Triennial Review in 2003, it was decided to increase the High Court strength from 655 to 749 Judges.

He said the Supreme Court on March 21, 2002 directed raising the strength of subordinate judiciary from the existing 10.5 per 10 lakh people to 50 judges per 10 lakh people within five years in a phased manner to be set by the Union Law Ministry.

The government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court praying that the increase in judge strength in the Union Territories be allowed based on workload and pendency of cases, he said, adding that the matter is sub-judice.

All State governments are party to this case, he noted.

Under article 235 of the Constitution of India, the administrative control over the members of subordinate judiciary in the States vests with the concerned High Court and the State government.

The Central Government has requested all State governments to take necessary action, he said.

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