Government of Gujarat Proposed to Convert the fast-track courts into courts of additional district judges

The Gujarat government plans to convert the state's fast-track courts, financially supported by the central government till March 31, into those of additional district judges.

The government gave the information about its disinclination to continue with the fast track courts in the absence of central funds to the Gujarat High Court on Monday (4-4-2011).

Around 120 fast track courts were set up in the last decade under a scheme of the central government for disposal of long pending sessions and other cases.

The division bench of Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Justice J B Pardiwala was told by government counsel P K Jani that the legal department had sent a letter to the registrar general informing him that the government proposed to convert the fast-track courts into courts of additional district judges.

On revised pay scales of judicial officers in the state, the state government informed the court that it has constituted a subcommittee and after the cabinet considereed its report, the matter would be put up before the governor.

Jani stated that the sub-committee comprising of the law minister, finance minister and minister of urban housing and development has submitted its report for effecting compliance of Padmanabhan Committee's recommendations to revise pay scales of judicial officers.

The bench was hearing a plea of Gujarat Labour Court judicial officers' association for pay revision.

The court earlier pulled up the government for not complying with the Supreme Court's directions to give benefits of 6th Pay Commission to judicial officers in the state. IANS