Judicial reforms in Delhi under AAP Government

Last updated: 11 Aug 2024

Need for Judicial Reforms: Considerable backlog of pending cases, judges and courts nationwide, leading to unnecessary delays in case resolutions - about 5 crore cases pending nationwide [1]

4-fold increase in Delhi Budget for the justiciary from ₹760 crores (2015-16) to ₹3,098 crores (2023-24)[1:1]

Court rooms increased 50% from 512 (2015-16) to 749 (2023-24) and judges increased from 526 (2015-16) to 840 (2023-24)

Additional 200 courtrooms and 450+ lawyer chambers are being constructed in 2024-25[2]

1. New Districts courts[1:2]

Already Functional[3]

  • A 60-courtroom complex, the Rouse Avenue Court, was inaugurated in 2019
  • 144 courtrooms have been added to Saket, Tis Hazari, and Karkardooma courts
  • The S-block of the Delhi High Court has been constructed and redeveloped

Work in Progress[3:1]

Government working on war-footing to address the shortage of courtrooms in Delhi’s district courts

  • Foundation stone of 3 NEW District court complexes laid on 02 July 2024
    • Rohini Sector-26 will consist of 2 building blocks with 10 and 12 storeys, along with a basement and ground floor. It will have 102 judges chambers, 362 lawyers chambers and 102 courtrooms[4]
    • Shastri Park court complex will have 48 courtrooms and 250 lawyers' work desks in a 11-storey building[4:1]
    • Karkardooma: 9-storey new court block will come up in which 50 new courtrooms and 5 judges chambers will be built[4:2]
      • The court complexes will be green buildings equipped with features, such as rainwater harvesting and solar power[4:3]
      • Projects worth ₹1098.5 crores

New Projects[5]

  • 10 Aug 2024: New district courts complex in Rouse Avenue Courts
    • Project costing Rs 427 crore was approved
    • 2 Blocks:
    • Block A will have 11 stories, including 3 basements, a ground floor, and 55 courtrooms
    • Block B will have 17 stories, including 3 basements, a ground floor and 815 lawyer chambers
    • Both blocks will be connected by a skywalk
    • Modern facilities, including a library, basement parking, a conference room and judicial offices

2. Digitalisation

Delhi is on its way to become the first state where all district courts will soon operate in Hybrid mode[3:2]

  • ₹100 crore has been earmarked for hybrid hearings in district courts in 2024-25 budget[1:3]

Number of people receiving free legal services through DSLSA has increased 4-fold from 33,000 in 2016 to 1,25,000 in 2023

References:

  1. https://delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Planning/budget_highlights_2024-25_english_0.pdf ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2024/Jan/17/delhi-govt-approves-rs-1098-crore-for-building-3-new-court-complexes ↩︎

  3. https://www.thestatesman.com/india/kejriwal-govt-committed-to-improving-judicial-infrastructure-of-delhi-atishi-1503315993.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2024/07/02/des34-dl-court-ld-complexes.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/delhi/govt-to-build-new-courts-complex-at-rouse-avenue/ ↩︎