In a bid to reduce the plight of justice-seekers and ease the pressure of mounting cases on existing courts, the government has planned to set up 313 more courts across the country and appoint senior 346 judicial magistrates, official sources said.
The government has also decided to set up seven cyber tribunals, 122 additional district and session judge courts, 159 joint district judge courts, 19 environment courts, and six environment appeal courts, an official document said.
The public administration and the finance ministers have already given their consent to set up cyber tribunals while the Ministry of Public Administration has given its approval to create chief metropolitan magistrate courts in the Gazipur and Rangpur districts.
Crisis of courtrooms is the main obstacle for speedy disposal of cases, the document said.
"The government is working to streamline the trial process by increasing courtrooms and ensuring the best use of working hours," it reads.
The number of pending cases with the country's lower courts till December 31, 2018 stands at 35,69,750, while the number of pending cases with the higher courts is 5,37,094. There are 14,29,861 civil cases and 20,48,067 criminal cases pending with the lower courts.
Besides being vertically expanded, the judge’s courts in 28 districts are being equipped with modern facilities. Chief judicial magistrate courts are being constructed in 42 districts. Of them, work of 24 buildings has already been completed.
A monitoring cell is working to dispose of the old cases on a priority basis under the leadership of a solicitor in addition to forming a case management committee in every district.
According to the official document, national and district-level Justice Coordination Committees have been formed to ensure effective coordination for the quick disposal of cases in courts.
The government is also procuring 128 vehicles to resolve the transport crisis that additional district and session judges currently face.
Training
The judges of lower courts are being trained for speedy trial and disposing of cases, the document further said.
A process to send 540 judges to Western Sydney University of Australia has started, while 253 judges have already received the training.
A total of 315 judges have already received training at the National Judicial Academy in Bhupal, India, while 30 in Japan, 20 judges in China and 14 and prosecutors in the USA.
Meanwhile, the Judicial Administration Training Institute provided training to 2,838 judges, 135 GP/PP and 193 court staff from 2014 to 2018. Besides, 59 judges have received training on e-procurement. "In phases, more judges will be given higher training both at home and abroad," the document says.
