Karnataka, in its submission to the 14th Finance Commission, had sought grants of Rs 4,461 cr.

New Delhi, Apr 6 (DHNS): Opposing creation of All-India Judicial Services, Karnataka on Sunday urged the Centre to provide sufficient financial grant for improving the judicial infrastructure in the State.

“Both the State government and the High Court of Karnataka are not in favour of creating All-India Judicial Services in the State and this stand has already been communicated to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said at the joint conference of the Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts here.

Realising the need to evolve a uniform procedure for appointment of District Judges, State Bar Council and State Judicial Academy ought to motivate young and budding lawyers as well as in-service Judicial Officers for appointment to the post of District Judges by conducting suitable orientation workshops, he added.

He also said his government will suitably re-orient the State Litigation Policy in tune with the proposed 10-point action plan envisaged in the draft National Litigation Policy.

The chief minister said the State government, in its submission to the 14th Finance Commission, had sought grants of Rs 4,461 crore for improving the judicial infrastructure in the State that included doubling the number of judges and courts, State Judicial Academy, training of judicial officers and public prosecutors and court managers.

“The Commission has not recommended grant-in-aid to the states. I request the Union Government to provide substantial support for improving the judicial infrastructure in the State,” he said.

Under the e-Courts Project, Siddaramaiah said 776 courts have been covered out of 854 in the state. Infrastructure at 753 courts was ready and software had been rolled out, he added.

The Karnataka has already established Juvenile Justice Boards in all the districts under the chairpersonship of the metropolitan magistrate/chief judicial magistrate. Besides, the government has also established chief welfare committees in all districts to strengthen juvenile justice system.

The State government is also planning to have separate legislation to settle matter related to dishonour of cheques through permanent Lok Adalats.