Mr. Justice Balakrishnan favoured setting up of gram Nyayalayas. “If about 4,000 Gram Nyayalayas are set up in the country, they can be helpful in settling minor offences or disputes of rural people,” he said.

While addressing the ‘International Conference on Judicial Reforms’ in Panchkula, expressing optimism that judicial infrastructure will improve in next two years due to higher allocation of funds, Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said “The Planning Commission has earmarked an outlay of Rs 5,000 crore for improving judicial infrastructure for the year 2010-11 and in next 2-3 years, there will be wonderful and fresh change in look of judiciary and court’s infrastructure,”

Mr. Justice Balakrishnan also favoured setting up of Gram Nyayalayas. “If about 4,000 Gram Nyayalayas are set up in the country, they can be helpful in settling minor offences or disputes of rural people,” he said. Nearly 2,000 Gram Nyayalayas have come up under an Act notified last year. Noting that efforts were on to improve the judicial system, the Chief Justice of India said the strength of High Court judges in the country had improved considerably.




However, he said that the situation in lower courts in the country was not as good as in higher courts. “It has been observed that there are no facilities for litigants, witnesses and even for lawyers in lower courts. Moreover, some of buildings in which courts are set up are even 150 years old. There has to be improvement in facilities in these courts also,” he said.

Mr Justice Balakrishnan also called upon the Central government to increase the budget outlay for creating more facilities for judicial system for speedy delivery of justice to the people of India. He expressed his concern over the vacancies of judges in various courts saying that there were 1600 courts and 2000 vacancies of judges existed as their appointment was being delayed because of the process which included selection, training and then appointment.