New Delhi: The development of infrastructure facilities for the judiciary in the states including facilities essential for differently-abled persons, is the responsibility of the state governments, Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The Central government augments the resources of the state governments by releasing financial assistance under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for the development of judicial infrastructure by providing financial assistance to state Governments/UTs in the prescribed fund-sharing pattern between the centre and the states, he said.

The scheme has been implemented since 1993-94. It covers the construction of court buildings and residential accommodations for judicial officers of district and subordinate judiciary. As against the sanctioned strength of 24,982 and working strength of 19,251 judges/judicial officers there are 21,140 court halls and 18,547 residential units available as on 31.10.2022.

A sum of Rs 9291.79 crore has been released under the scheme so far since its inception, out of which Rs 5847.48 crore (62.93 pc) has been released since 2014-15. The scheme has been extended from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a budgetary outlay of Rs 9000 crore including central share of Rs 5307 crore, he said.

Besides the construction of court halls and residential quarters, the scheme now also covers the construction of lawyers’ halls, digital computer rooms and toilet complexes in the district and subordinate courts. The scheme guidelines also include the norms and specifications for the court buildings which suggest the state governments to comply with the existing standards for disabled friendly people. /BI/