All courts in India to be computerized: Minister

Tirupati, July 14 (UNI) For the speedy delivery of justice, all courts in the country will be computerised at an estimated cost of Rs 440 crore, Union Law Minister for state K Venkatapathy said today.

After inaugurating the two-day regional conference for law officers on 'justice delivery system' here, he said to bring courts at the doorstep of the rural public, Grameena Courts would be established and that judicial officers and police department should work jointly.

To speed up clearing of cases in Andhra Pradesh, additional 26 judges were appointed raising the present strength of judges to 65.

Vacant posts in all courts would be filled soon, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, State Minister for Law and Courts R Chenga Reddy claimed that in the past leading and reputed lawyers opted to become public prosecutors. It was considered to be a position of honour and they were respected by the co-members of legal profession. Unfortunately, the situation has changed now, he opined.

''We should introspect why the situation has changed and try to find a remedy to the situation,'' - this was one of the chief objectives of the conference, he added.

The recent decisions of the Supreme Court emphasised the need to exercise vigilance, especially in tacking hostile witnesses.

He said the endeavour of the state government to find out lapses in the speedy justice delivery system was contemplating to set up a State Law Commissioner.

The regional conference would review the performance of law officers and courts.

Mr Reddy said, the government was very much anxious to see that the quality of services being extended by the law officers to the state should in no way be inferior to that of the services the private parties were getting from the competent lawyers engaged by them. The law officers should raise to the expectations of the government, he said.

Without cordial relationship between the law officers and the bench the justice delivery system would not be successful, he added.

UNI