e–Courts in Assam soon

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, February 3: Union Law minister Sadanda Gowda today said 283 courts out of the total 287 in Assam will be made e–courts by March this year.

“This is the first phase of the project. All the required instruments are being installed. The Centre had allocated Rs 121 crore for Assam under this project and Rs 24  crore has been released. Out of this, Rs 8.14 crore have been utilised so far," he said.

Gowda also criticised Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi over his decision not to implement the recently amended Central Land Acquisition Act and termed it a "political" move. "The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam is making a political statement," Gowda told reporters here.

Gowda further said the Centre will introduce amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 in the coming budget session of Parliament to make the country investor–friendly.

The government will also move the tiol Litigation Policy in the cabinet and discuss it in the budget session, he said, adding there were also plans to introduce commercial benches in High Courts soon.

Under Prime Minister rendra Modi’s leadership, the Central government is trying to present India as an investor–friendly country to the world, and hence laws should be supporting this initiative, he said.

Speaking about the tiol Litigation Policy, the Minister said the government is ready with it, and will bring it to the cabinet and then introduce it in the budget session of Parliament. "We want to address inter–department disputes through this policy. Disputes between PSUs and between the government and different PSUs will be considered in it," he said.

Gowda said the Centre is planning to introduce commercial benches in High Courts soon to hear cases related to fincial disputes.

The Union minister held meetings with the State Chief Secretary and the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and discussed several issues, including the backlog of cases. He also mooted the idea of setting up holiday courts in Assam as morning and evening courts are not feasible here.

Gowda also assured that the vacant posts of judges in the Foreigners Tribuls will be filled shortly.