Judicial Reforms in India :part 2
Significant Reforms in the Indian Judicial System
1. Structural and Administrative Reforms
| Reform | Description |
|---|---|
| National Mission for Justice Delivery & Legal Reforms (2011) | Reduce delays and arrears; enhance accountability via structural changes. |
| Infrastructure Development (1993-94 onwards) | Rs. 9,13.21 crores released for courts’ modernization and facilities improvement. |
| Filling Vacant Positions | 46 Supreme Court judges and 769 High Court judges appointed (2014–2022). |
| Fast Track & Special Courts | Courts for heinous crimes, senior citizens, women, children, etc. |
| Gram Nyayalayas | Village-level courts with online portals for case monitoring. |
2. Procedural Reforms
| Reform | Description |
|---|---|
| Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) | Lok Adalats, Gram Nyayalayas, Online Dispute Resolution; Commercial Courts Act (2015) mandates pre-institution mediation. |
| Simplifying Procedural Laws | Reforms in CPC, CrPC, Evidence Act to reduce delays. |
| Judicial Impact Assessment | Mandatory assessment of new laws for impact on judiciary workload. |
3. Technological Reforms
| Reform | Description |
|---|---|
| Virtual Courts | Court proceedings via videoconferencing. |
| E-Sewa Kendras | Online filing services for lawyers and litigants. |
| National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) | Access to case status and judgments. |
| National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes (NSTEP) | Technology-enabled issuance of summons. |
| S3WAAS Website | Divyang-friendly court portals in 13 languages. |
| Virtual Justice Clock | Displays pendency and case disposal statistics. |
4. Measures Proposed for Reform
| Measure | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Transparency in Appointment | Joint role of Executive and Judiciary; judiciary for legal acumen, executive for antecedents. |
| Reducing Pendency | Increase judges’ strength; create regional benches of Supreme Court; extend retirement age of High Court & SC judges. |
| Optimum Time Utilization | Curtail vacations, extend working hours. |
| All India Judicial Services (AIJS) | Unified system for recruitment and career progression of judicial officers. |
| Judicial Management Cadre & Infrastructure Authority | Standardize administration and infrastructure. |
| ADR & Plea Bargaining | Promote out-of-court settlements to reduce case load. |
| Fast Track Courts Improvement | Adequate judges, competent staff, process restructuring. |
| Legal Services | Independent mechanism to ensure access to justice. |
| Timely Justice to Undertrials | Bail as the norm; expedite trials for undertrials. |
| Increase Women Representation | Aim for 50% representation in judiciary. |
| Legal Education & Training | Compulsory apprenticeship; Research & Training Centres for law officers. |
| Prompt Investigation & Prosecution | Strengthen police and prosecuting agencies. |
Key Takeaways for
Judicial reforms focus on speed, accessibility, transparency, and accountability.
Major thrust areas: infrastructure, human resources, technology, procedural simplification, and gender equity.
Initiatives are aligned with reducing pendency, enhancing legal access, and improving governance.
Integration of ADR and digital solutions is critical to modern judicial delivery.
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