Par passes bill for mobile village courts

The Parliament on Monday passed a bill for setting up of rural courts to provide inexpensive justice at the doorsteps of the villagers, the Gram Nyayalayas Bill, 2008 was moved in Lok Sabha by Law Minister Hansraj Bharadwaj. The bill was passed by a voice vote even as opposition members raised slogans against Union Minister A R Antulay for his controversial remarks on the killing of Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare during the Mumbai terror attacks. The bill, which was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha on 17th December, provides for holding of mobile courts and conducting proceedings by the 'Nyaya Adhikari' (Judicial Magistrates First Class) periodically visiting the villages. The Centre will give financial support of about Rs 320 crore to the states to set up at least one such court in all the 5067 blocks of the country. "This will offer quick and inexpensive justice to the rural people," Bhardwaj had said in the Upper House. The Bill aims to take justice to villagers who have to otherwise travel to cities and pay high cost of litigation. Bhardwaj had sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's help to send at least 3000 judges, who will be the JMFCs, for the courts. They will be called 'Nyaya Adhikaris'. "They are strictly judicial officers. They will be drawing the same salary, deriving the same powers as the first class magistrates working under the High Courts," Bhardwaj had said. (DD-22.12) Bill seeking hike in SC, HC judges' salaries introduced in LS A Bill proposing over three-fold hike in the salaries of judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Law Minister H R Bhardwaj introduced the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Bill in the Lok Sabha. Bhardwaj introduced the Bill amid a din by BJP members protesting Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay's controversial remarks on the killing of Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare during the Mumbai terror attacks. The Bill proposes to hike the salary of the Chief Justice of India from Rs 33,000 per month to Rs One lakh per month, and that of other apex Court judges from Rs 30,000 pm to Rs 90,000 pm. The draft legistlation seeks to increase the salary of the Chief Justice of High Courts from Rs 30,000 to Rs 90,000 pm and that of the judges of High Courts from Rs 26,000 pm to Rs 80,000 per month. Based on the recommendation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, the Central Government has decided to grant additional quantum of pension and family pension with reference to the age of the Central Government pensioner and family pensioner. On the same analogy, it has been decided to extend similar benefits to all retired judges, Bhardwaj said in statement of objects and reasons for the Bill. The hike in the salaries is proposed to be effective from 1st January 2006. (ST-22/12) No conflict between Govt, judiciary over postings: Bhardwaj There is no conflict between the govt and the judiciary, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj said in the Rajya Sabha against the backdrop of the Supreme Court collegium rejecting the Centre's objections over the recent judicial promotion recommendations. The minister said as per the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution, the consultation with the Chief Justice of India means the consultation with the collegium or panel of judges which makes recommendation for the appointment. On the question of government's refusal and asking the CJI to reconsider the names of some judges for elevation, Bhardwaj said in a written reply that according to the apex court's interpretation if the government feels that the recommendation needs to be reconsidered, then it may be referred back to the CJI. However, if the collegium reiterates the recommendation, then the proposal has to be referred to the President for approval. The same procedure has been followed in the latest appointments to the Supreme Court, the minister said. There is no conflict between the government and the judiciary. However, there have been demands from certain quarters for reconsideration of the law laid down in the Advocates-on-Record vs Union of India case, he said. The minister, while responding to another question, said during this year five judges were appointed to the Supreme Court and 72 judges were appointed to the various High Courts. He added there were two vacancies pending in the apex court while the number of vacancies in the High Courts stood at 277. In another reply, he said there was no proposal to enforce a uniform civil code. Bringing in such a code involves changes in the personal laws, including those of minority communities. It has been a consistent policy of the central government not to interfere in the personal laws of minority communities unless the necessary initiatives for such changes come from a sizeable cross-section of such communities themselves.

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