Chandigarh April 2:
With the Centre going slow on releasing funds for fast-track courts, as many as 14 additional district and sessions judges in Punjab have been “repatriated” to their substantive ranks. As a result the system of putting cases on a fast track has come to a standstill.
The judges, appointed on an ad hoc basis for the fast-track courts in Punjab, now stand repatriated to the ranks of civil judge (senior division) or chief judicial magistrate. The development is significant as Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily had only recently announced the Centre was unlikely to continue funding the fast-track courts beyond March 31; and the state governments could assume the financial burden, if they so desired.
The orders, issued on the morning of March 31, came into force with immediate effect. In fact, the officers were directed to relinquish charge by the afternoon. The orders issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court say consequent upon the non-extension of the fast-track courts beyond March 31 in the state of Punjab and on the repatriation of the officers to their substantive ranks, the Chief Justice and the Judges were issuing orders for transfers and postings.
“The officers shall relinquish their charge at their present stations on March 31 afternoon, as to join the next stations of postings immediately”, the order further read. In all, the existence of the 1,562 fast-track courts across the country has come under threat, despite an impressive track record in the disposal of cases. Constituted in 2001, the courts were working on a modest budgetary support. Together, the courts had disposed of more than 60 lakh cases till last year.
The Centre had initially allocated Rs 285 crore for the fast-track courts for a five-year period from 2006 to 2011. Though the 13th Finance Commission has set apart a Rs 5,000 crore budget for the judiciary, specific allocation has not been made to extend the term of the fast-track courts in the country. As of now, the Centre proposes to create new courts, instead of continuing with the fast-track courts.
The policy decision to establish the fast-track courts was taken in 2001. In March 2010, the Centre told the Supreme Court the pendency of criminal cases came down from 2.5 crores in 2009 to 1.94 crores in 2010 due to the fast-track courts. The additional district and sessions judges affected by the development include Ravinder Singh.
He goes to Tarn Taran as Civil Judge (Senior Division). The others to go on the same post are Sanjay Kumar (Nawanshahr); Gurmail Singh (Moga); Baljinder Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib); Harveen Bhardwaj (Gurdaspur); Harinder Pal Singh (Barnala); Sarabjit Singh Dhaliwal (Muktsar); Mohinder Singh (Patiala); Rajeev Malhotra (Mansa); Harsh Mehta (Fatehgarh Sahib);and Dilbagh Singh Johal (Bathinda).
The Judges posted as Chief Judicial Magistrates are Neelam Arora (Tarn Taran), Budh Ram Garg (Mansa) and Kuldeep Singh (Nawanshahr). In all, 25 transfers have been ordered.
With the Centre going slow on releasing funds for fast-track courts, as many as 14 additional district and sessions judges in Punjab have been “repatriated” to their substantive ranks. As a result the system of putting cases on a fast track has come to a standstill.
The judges, appointed on an ad hoc basis for the fast-track courts in Punjab, now stand repatriated to the ranks of civil judge (senior division) or chief judicial magistrate. The development is significant as Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily had only recently announced the Centre was unlikely to continue funding the fast-track courts beyond March 31; and the state governments could assume the financial burden, if they so desired.
The orders, issued on the morning of March 31, came into force with immediate effect. In fact, the officers were directed to relinquish charge by the afternoon. The orders issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court say consequent upon the non-extension of the fast-track courts beyond March 31 in the state of Punjab and on the repatriation of the officers to their substantive ranks, the Chief Justice and the Judges were issuing orders for transfers and postings.
“The officers shall relinquish their charge at their present stations on March 31 afternoon, as to join the next stations of postings immediately”, the order further read. In all, the existence of the 1,562 fast-track courts across the country has come under threat, despite an impressive track record in the disposal of cases. Constituted in 2001, the courts were working on a modest budgetary support. Together, the courts had disposed of more than 60 lakh cases till last year.
The Centre had initially allocated Rs 285 crore for the fast-track courts for a five-year period from 2006 to 2011. Though the 13th Finance Commission has set apart a Rs 5,000 crore budget for the judiciary, specific allocation has not been made to extend the term of the fast-track courts in the country. As of now, the Centre proposes to create new courts, instead of continuing with the fast-track courts.
The policy decision to establish the fast-track courts was taken in 2001. In March 2010, the Centre told the Supreme Court the pendency of criminal cases came down from 2.5 crores in 2009 to 1.94 crores in 2010 due to the fast-track courts. The additional district and sessions judges affected by the development include Ravinder Singh.
He goes to Tarn Taran as Civil Judge (Senior Division). The others to go on the same post are Sanjay Kumar (Nawanshahr); Gurmail Singh (Moga); Baljinder Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib); Harveen Bhardwaj (Gurdaspur); Harinder Pal Singh (Barnala); Sarabjit Singh Dhaliwal (Muktsar); Mohinder Singh (Patiala); Rajeev Malhotra (Mansa); Harsh Mehta (Fatehgarh Sahib);and Dilbagh Singh Johal (Bathinda).
The Judges posted as Chief Judicial Magistrates are Neelam Arora (Tarn Taran), Budh Ram Garg (Mansa) and Kuldeep Singh (Nawanshahr). In all, 25 transfers have been ordered.
