Kiren Rijiju stresses on adoption of Alternative Dispute Redressal Mechanism to reduce pending cases in courts

Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Saturday emphasized on adoption of Alternative Dispute Redressal Mechanism to reduce the pending cases in courts across the country. Addressing a seminar organized by Bar Council of India and Bihar State Bar Council in Patna, Mr. Rijiju said 4.8 Crore cases are pending in courts and to reduce this there is a need to promote alternative ways like mediation and arbitration. He also said Legal Aid Service Authorities can play a crucial role to get rid of the problem by promoting more and more Lok Adalats. Mr. Rijiju said for accessible justice to common man of the country the government is promoting tele law facility and digital courts. He also said that advocates should work on pro bono concept as the government is providing free legal aid in far flung areas of the country with the help of National Legal Aid Services Authority (NALSA). He also stressed upon standardization of law education in colleges, improvement of court infrastructure in the lower judiciary system. The Union Minister said that the NDA government has allocated a budget of 09 thousand Crore rupees for improvement of court infrastructure in the country. He also spoke about activation of Fast Track Courts in full strength. Mr Rijiju appealed to Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of the High Courts to devise a set up for functioning of  1800 Fast Track Courts in the country. He said presently 896 Fast Track Courts are functional against the sanctioned strength. Addressing the function Chief Justice of India (CJI) Uday Umesh Lalit said the motto of advocates should be upholding the rule of law. He said they must be rational in thinking and fact finding in nature.