Govt has initiated process for judicial reforms: Moily

Lucknow, Jan 30 (PTI) Union Law Minister M VeerappaMoily today said the Centre has initiated the process to bringjudicial reforms for speedy disposal of cases and ensuringaccountability.

"We are in process of implementing judicial reformswherein any case should not exceed for more than three yearstime in the court for which a law on right to justice isbeing framed," Moily told reporters at Uttar Pradesh Congressheadquarters here.

The minister said after judicial reforms, disposal ofcorruption cases will take a maximum of one year. "Once thissystem is in place every court will literally become a fasttrack court."

The Law Ministry has asked the Chief Justices of allthe 24 High Courts to send details on the pending cases ofcorruption.

"The ministry has asked the details, which we expectto get in three months after which speedy trail will beensured. In fact the Chief Justice of India has asked thestate CJs to fast track corruption cases," Moily said.

The Law Minister said 5,000 gramin nyayalaya (ruralcourts) will be established with a cost of Rs 5,000 crore.

"Nearly 50 per cent cases will be redressed by these courts."

Moily noted a bill to check benami and illegalproperties was also under consideration of the government.

"A lot of programmes are being implemented in thisdirection for which Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated," hesaid.

On the issue of Central Vigilance Commissioner P JThomas, the minister said that the matter was subjudice andpending before the Supreme Court. "I don''t think I shouldspeak about it, but a question was put by the SC before theAttorney General that whether the palmoline case was putbefore the collegium, the AG has categorically said no."

On ensuring free and fair elections, Moily who washere to attend regional consultation on electoral reformssaid, comprehensive reform will be made in the electoralprocess to stop criminals, communalisation and mafiadomination.

"The reform process aims at ensuring 100 per cent freeand fair elections and it is the biggest exercise taken afterthe independence," he said.

On Opposition''s demand for JPC probe into 2G scam,Moily said the criminal side was being investigated by theCBI.

"The matter is also being investigated by the PACheaded by Murli Manohar Joshi. What space is available forthe JPC is to be looked into?" he argued.

The law minister said a meeting of opposition leadershas been called on February 8 for a disruption free budgetsession.