'SC/ST quota to be extended by a year'

More tribunals to prevent cases clogging courts

 The extension—by a year—is necessary as current laws providing reservations have been in existence for 10 years, the minister said.

Talking in a meet the press programme, Moily also expressed concern over the cases pending in the courts and promised that the government would announce a roadmap to reduce the pending period from 15 to three years.

Regarding posts of judges that have remained vacant, the minister said the government would fill the positions of five Supreme Court, 251 High Court and 3129 Lower Court judges. If necessary, retired judges will be called back to preside over fast track courts and Lok Adalats to clear the backlog of about 3.5 crore cases in three stages.

The government will set up more tribunals, fast track-courts, and Lok Adalats to prevent cases clogging the courts. The government will also review the multiple level revision of a case.

As a means of stopping the Centre and state governments from rushing to the courts to seek redressals, the minister said  alternative dispute redressal system will be considered. Following the examples of Delhi and Gujarat, more morning and evening courts will be set up.

Though he is open to the idea of letting foreign law firms into the country, the minister said decision on the issue will be taken only after consultations with the legal fraternity.
Pointing to his pioneering idea of establishing National Law School University, Moily said he would take steps to improve law education in the country.

“Foreign law firms will not be an issue if we produce quality lawyers here through a highly competitive legal education system,” he said.

Improving quality of lawyers would provide India an opportunity to take advantage of the globalised legal profession. He felt the country can become a reservoir for legal expertise if the education system he is envisaging comes into place.

After taking charge of his ministry, Moily had held consultations with the Bar Council of India (BCI) to plan the strategy to end strikes and oppositions of lawyers association in various states.