New Delhi: The Chief Justices of High Courts and the Chief Ministers of various States have agreed to introduce a shift system in the subordinate courts to dispose of appropriate cases, including those relating to petty offences. A decision to this effect was taken recently at the conference of the Chief Justices and Chief Ministers.

It was decided that evening/morning courts would be set up, wherever found feasible and appropriate cases, including those involving petty offences be transferred to such courts. Either retired judicial officers would be re-employed or serving judicial officers would be given suitable incentive, to preside over these courts.

The conference decided to strengthen the Alternative Dispute Redressal systems such as mediation, negotiation, conciliation and Lok Adalats to bring about peaceful settlement to the disputes. As far as possible members of the Bar alone would be engaged as mediators and conciliators.

The Chief Justices in a separate conference, presided over by the Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, called for revising the norms for increasing the judge strength in the High Courts.

The meeting reiterated the stand that the Chief Justice of the High Court be delegated full powers to appropriate and re-appropriate the funds allocated by the State Government; consistent with their financial resources, State Governments shall provide adequate budgetary allocation for judiciary.

A resolution said, "As far as the issue of increase in the judge strength in the High Courts is concerned, the existing norms should be revised because the increase in judge strength, linked with disposal of cases, does not bring about the desired effect. The increase in the judge strength in the High Court should be independent only upon the pendency of cases as well as the trend of institution of fresh cases in the High Court."

"The conference was of the uniform view that if the vacancies of regular judges in the High Courts are not more than 25 per cent, in such High Courts ad hoc judges should be appointed."

The meeting expressed concern over inordinate delay in disposal of civil cases and said, "The time frame relating to filing of written statements under Order VIII Rule 1 of Civil Procedure Code should be strictly adhered to and only in exceptional cases should the courts permit filing of written statements beyond the upper time limit of 90 days. Frequent adjournments should be avoided."

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