IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO 480 OF 2018

(UNDER ARTICLE 32 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA)

IN THE MATTER OF:

ASHWINI KUMAR UPADHYAY …PETITIONER

VERSES

UNION OF INDIA & OTHERS ...RESPONDENTS

PAPER BOOK

[FOR INDEX KINDLY SEE INSIDE]

(ADVOCATE FOR PETITIONER: R.D.UPADHYAY)

PERFORMA FOR FIRST LISTING

Section: PIL
The case pertains to (Please tick / check the correct box):

 Central Act: Constitution of India

 Section: Article 21 of the Constitution

 Central Rule: N/A

 Rule No: N/A

 State Act: N/A

 Section: N/A

 State Rule: N/A

 Rule No: N/A

 Impugned Interim Order: N/A

 Impugned Final Order / Decree: N/A

 High Court: N/A

 Name of Judges: N/A

 Tribunal / Authority Name : N/A

1. Nature of Matter: Civil

2. (a) Petitioner / Appellant : Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay

(b) Email ID:

(c) Phone No:

3. (a) Respondent: Union of India and others

(b) Email ID: N/A

(c) Phone No: N/A

4. (a) Main Category: 08 PIL Matters

(b) Sub Category: 0812, Others

5. Not to be listed before: N/A

6. Similar/Pending matter: N/A

 7. Criminal Matters: N/A

(a) Whether accused / convicted has surrendered: N/A

(b) FIR / Complaint No: N/A

(c) Police Station: N/A

(d) Sentence Awarded: N/A

(e) Period of Sentence Undergone including period of

detention/custody under gone: N/A

8. Land Acquisition Matters:

(a) Date of Section 4 Notification: N/A

(b) Date of Section 6 Notification: N/A

(c) Date of Section 17 Notification

9. Tax Matters: State the Tax Effect: N/A

10. Special Category: N/A

11. Vehicle No in case of motor accident claim matters): N/A

12. Decided Cases with Citation: N/A

Date: 07.05.2018

ADVOCATE FOR PETITIONER

(R. D. UPADHYAY)

Advocate-on-Record

SYNOPSIS

Right to speedy justice is not a fact or fiction but a Constitutional reality

and it has to be given its due respect. If the administration of justice

delivery system is to yield good results then the courts have to act with
greater promptitude. A guilty person deserves to be punished promptly

and an innocent should be released immediately because his

protractions in the legal system can be most traumatic.

The time has come when the judicial system has to be revamped

and restructured so that injustice does not occur and disfigure fair and

otherwise luminous face of our nascent democracy. The inordinate

delay has become a common feature of Indian judicial system. The

dictum 'Justice Delayed' postulates that an unreasonable delay in the

administration of justice constitutes an unconscionable denial of justice.

The right to a speedy trial is first mentioned in the landmark

document of English law, the Magna Carta. The right to a speedy trial

finds expression in the United States of America's Constitution, State

Constitutions, State and Federal Statutory Law and State and Federal

case law. In United States, the right to speedy trial has been derived

from a provision of Megna Carta and this right was interpreted and

incorporated into the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776 and from

there into the 6th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The

right to speedy trial is an important safeguard to prevent undue and

oppressive incarceration prior to trial, to minimize anxiety and concern

accompanying public accusation and to limit the possibility that long

delay will impair the ability of an accused to defend himself. The

guarantee of a speedy trial is one of the most basic rights preserved by

the American Constitution, it is one of those fundamental liberties

embodied in the Bill of Rights which due process Clause of the 14th

Amendment make applicable to the State.

 The problem of delay in disposal of case is not a new problem in

India and has been in existence since a long time. However, it has now

acquired terrific proportions. On the one hand, it has put the judicial

system under strain and on the other hand, it has shaken the confidence

of the people also. All the delay and lack of accountability and half baked

schemes amount to a daily mockery of the fundamental right to speedy

trial. The Supreme Court has time and again made it clear that "speedy

trial is the essence to criminal justice and there can be no doubt that the

delay in trial by itself constitutes denial of justice". It has further added

that there can be no doubt that speedy trial - and by speedy trial we

mean a reasonable expeditious trial - is an integral and essential part of

fundamental right to life and liberty enshrined in Article 21 of the

Constitution. It is a very important obligation. Even apart from Article

21 the constitutional mandate for speedy justice is inescapable. The

Preamble to the Constitution of India enjoins the State to secure social,

economic and political justice to all its citizens. Further, the Directive

Principles of State Policy declare that the state should strive for a social

order in which such justice shall inform all the institutions of national

life under Article 38(1). The paramount purpose of speedy trial is to

safeguard the innocent from undue punishments but prolonged

pendency has created unaccountable barriers in this regard. Huge

numbers of cases are pending for years together, which create mental

and economic pressures on the litigants.

The Indian Judiciary would take 320 years to clear the backlog of

about 31.28 million cases pending in various courts in India. The reason

for backlog of cases pending is inadequate judge strength which is 13.05

judges per one million people, as against Australia 58 per million in

Canada's 75, the United Kingdom 100 and the United States of America

130 per million. In 2002, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to

raise the judge - population ration to 50 per million in a phased manner,

as recommended by the Law Commission in its 120th report. The

suggestion has had little effect. Besides this, there are number of factors,

which are solely responsible for the arrears of cases. Broadly, there are

two factors, viz., procedural and substantive. The procedural factors

responsible for the delay in disposal of cases are: (i) Pre-trial delays (ii)

Delay during trial (iii) delay during appellate proceedings and (iv) delay

during the execution proceedings. On the other hand, substantive

factors include: (i) judicial vacancies/delay in appointment of judge, (ii)

lack of accountability of judges, (iii) to many vacations in the courts, (iv)

misuse of public interest litigation, (v) witnesses turning hostile (vi)

writ jurisdictions and (vii) delay by the judges. In addition to these, the

other causes attributed for delay are: inadequate numbers of courts,

judicial officers are not being fully equipped to tackle cases involving

specialized knowledge, dilatory tactics adopted by litigants and lawyers,

who seek frequent adjournments and delay filing documents etc. The

concept of speedy justice is sine qua non of criminal jurisprudence. A

number of Committees were constituted to examine the problem of

delay and the first Committee named as Justice Rankin Committee was

set up. Since then several Committees have put forth recommendations.

These include the PRS Legislative Research, Pendency of Cases in

Indian Courts, Justice S.R. Das High Court Arrears Committee (1949),

The Trevor Harris Committee in West Bengal (1949), the Wanchoo

Committee in Uttar Pradesh (1950), Justice J.C. Shah Committee (1972),

Statish Chandra Committee (1986) and the Malimath Committee (1990,

2000). At the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Ministers, both the

Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India promoted reforms to

ensure speedy justice. On October 24-25, 2009, Members of the

Supreme Court and High Courts, Ministry of Law and Justice, Bar

Council, and faculty of Indian Law Institute and other academic

institutions gathered for a "National Consultation for Strengthening the

Judiciary towards Reducing Pendency and Delays".

Various reports on judicial Reforms have been submitted by the

Law Commissions after in depth study, which have dealt with various

aspects of Law-substantive and procedural. The Law Commission has

addressed the issue in several reports since 1955: the 14th 38th 78th

79th 80th 117th 120th 121th 124th 125th 154th 139th 197th 221th

222th 229th 230th and 245th reports dealt with issues of delay, pendency

and arrears. It is manifestly clear that many of the important

recommendations, made by the Law Commission of India, from time to

time, have not been implemented by the Government. In its 239th

Report the Law Commission suggested amendment to Cr.P.C are

desirable by which the High Courts will assume more proactive role in

taking various measures. But, the Executive has neither taken steps to

reduce pendency of cases from 15 years to 3 years nor implemented

NCRWC and Law Commission recommendations. Hence, this petition.

LIST OF DATES

31.03.2002: The National Commission to Review the Working of

the Constitution submitted its Report to Government.

30.04.2009: Law Commission submitted it 221st Report “Need for

Speedy Justice - Some Suggestions” to Government.

05.08.2009: Law Commission submitted it 230th Report “Reforms

in the Judiciary -Some Suggestions” to Government.

25.10.2009: A Resolution was adopted in presence of the Justices

of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Judicial

Officers, Law Officers, Members of the Bar,

Representatives of the Union Law Ministry to reduce

the pendency of cases from 15 years to 3 years and to

ensure expeditious, quality and inclusive justice to all.

07.07.2014: Law Commission submitted it 245th Report “Arrears

and Backlog : Creating Additional Manpower”. But,

the Executive did nothing to implement its proposals.

16.10.2015: The 5 Judges Bench, declared the Constitution (99th

Amendment) Act 2014 and the National Judicial

Appointment Commission Act 2014 void and invalid.

03.11.2015: The Constitution Bench started hearing on how to

enhance the transparency in Judge’s appointment.

05.11.2015: Petitioner argued before the Constitution Bench and

submitted its suggestion before the Bench.

07.05.2018: Right to speedy justice is a fundamental right

guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. But,

Executive has failed to secure it. Hence, this petition.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO 480 OF 2018
(UNDER ARTICLE 32 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA)
IN THE MATTER OF:
 Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay
…....Petitioner
Verses
1. Union of India
Through the Secretary,
Ministry of Law and Justice,
Shashtri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001,
2. Union of India
Through the Secretary,
Ministry of Finance,
North Block, New Delhi-110001,
3. Supreme Court of India
Through the Secretary General
Tilak Marg, New Delhi-110201 …Respondents
WRIT PETITION UNDER ARTICLE 32 SEEKING WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTIONS
TO REDUCE THE PENDENCY OF CASES FROM 15 YEARS TO 3 YEARS IN LINE WITH
RESOLUTION DATED 25.10.2009, ADOPTED AT THE NATIONAL CONSULTATION
FOR STRENGTHENING THE JUDICIARY TOWARDS REDUCING PENDENCY AND
DELAYS; AND TO IMPLEMENT LAW COMMISSION’S REPORT NO. 221, 230 & 245
To,
THE HON’BLE CHIEF JUSTICE
& LORDSHIP’S COMPANION JUSTICES
OF HON’BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
HUMBLE PETITION OF ABOVE-NAMED PETITIONER
THE MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH AS UNDER:
1. Petitioner is filing this writ petition civil as a PIL seeking a writ, order or

directions to reduce the pendency of cases from 15 years to 3 years in line

with the Resolution dated 25.10.2009, adopted at the National Consultation

for Strengthening the Judiciary towards Reducing Pendency and Delays;

and to implement Law Commission’s Report No. 221, 230 and 245.

2. Petitioner has not filed any petition, (except WP(C) 295/2016, in which

this Hon’ble Court granted liberty to file fresh petition for similar relief)

either in this Hon’ble Court or in any other High Court seeking same and

similar directions as prayed in the instant writ petition.

3. Petitioner’s full name is Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. Residence at: G-284,

Govindpuram, Ghaziabad-201013, #08800278866, aku.adv@gmail.com,

PAN No: AAVPU7330G, AADHAAR No-659982174779. Annual Income is

about 03 LPA. Petitioner is an Advocate, practices before the Supreme

 Court and High Court and also a social-political activist, contributing his

best to the development of socially-economically downtrodden people.

4. The facts constituting cause of action accrued on 25.10.2009 and every

subsequent date, when a Resolution was adopted by the Government to

reduce the pendency of cases from 15 years to 3 years. However, it has

not taken appropriate steps to reduce the pendency till date.

5. The injury caused to the public is very large because the prevailing

strength of judges and judicial infrastructure has failed to provide

speedy justice to citizens in spirit of the Articles 14, 21 and Preamble of

the Constitution, as the average pendency of the case is about 15 years.

6. Petitioner has no personal interests, individual gain, private motive or

oblique reasons in filing this writ petition. It is not guided for gain of any

other individual person, institution or body. There is no motive other

than the interest of children, who are future citizens of this country.

7. There is no civil, criminal or revenue litigation, involving petitioner,

which has or could have legal nexus, with the issue involved in this

petition. This petition is totally bona-fide.

8. There is no requirement to move concerned authority for relief sought

in this petition. There is no other remedy available except approaching

to this Hon’ble Court by way of this petition seeking a mandamus for

implementation of Resolution dated 25.10.2009 and NCRWC and Law

Commission’s recommendations on judicial reform.

9. The Petitioner herein seeks to highlight the violation of the fundamental

rights of the litigants guaranteed and protected under Articles 14 and

21 of the Constitution when their cases witness staggering delays in

disposal across all levels. It is humbly submitted that the maxim “justice
 delayed is justice denied” is visibly felt in our country due to the

enormous backlog of cases and has acquired uncontrollable proportion,

even though this Hon’ble Court has read Article 21 of the Constitution to

include the right to a speedy trial. The principle of “justice for all” as is

envisioned in the Preamble of our Constitution necessarily requires

access to the highest level of justice to every common citizen.

10. It is the fervent submission of the Petitioner that the Respondent

is duty bound to facilitate filling up of the existing Judges strength

across the country and to consider increasing the same substantially in

terms of the 245th Report of the Law commission of India. There is an

urgent need to focus on reducing the number of cases filed and the

number of cases going to trial. While the concept of "plea bargain" has

been introduced in the Cr.P.C. However, the same remains mostly a

concept. In civil litigation, there is a need to work towards preventive

litigation in the form of pre-litigation advisory by trained professionals.

It is equally important to strengthen the "alternative disputes redressal

mechanism". One such mechanism is arbitration. It is common

knowledge that arbitration has not yielded the desired result. It is

important that the powers under Section 34 and Section 37 of the

Arbitration Act should be exercised only in cases of gross injustice.

Institutional arbitration should have only trained legal minds. But,

unfortunately, Executive is taking appropriate steps in this regard.

11. It is also important to strengthen the "conciliatory mechanism" as

provided in various statutes as pre-condition before formal proceedings

can be initiated. In labour matters if there were a robust conciliation

mechanism, most of the cases would be sorted out before they reach
 even the industrial tribunals. The conciliation mechanism must be

manned by experts and not by Assistant labour commissioners. The

mechanism of "mediation" as provided for in Section 89 of CPC must be

made a sine qua non before the matters go to formal trial. In

matrimonial matters, the possibility of an amicable settlement should be

explored through mediation. However, in case of a negative report by

the Mediator, the Courts should facilitate quick disposal of proceedings.

The cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act should

be assigned to Special Courts chaired by retired District Court Judges.

The procedural laws ought to be shortened, a strict schedule should be

fixed for completion of pleadings, and matters should only be listed for

hearing at the stage of evidence. Presence of accused for procedural

hearings must be done away. This is high time to setup Division Benches

at District Level also. In High Courts, only Division Bench should decide

appeals. It will reduce judicial error and speedup the disposal. Special

statutes proving for direct appeal to the Apex Court must be brought in

harmony with the judgment in L. Chandra Kumar's case. Additional

filter of the cases passing through the Division Bench of High Court

would reduce the burden on the Apex Court. There is a need to

discourage commercial litigation between corporate. A pre-deposit

could be made compulsory for these cases, which eat up considerable

judicial time. Exemplary costs should become the order of the day.

12. The concept of stare decisis must be respected by all Courts and

long settled principles of law ought not to be unsettled unless they are

legally unsustainable. The Trial Court Judges must be encouraged by

awarding them points for stage wise progress of the cases instead of
 points for final disposal. The Government being the biggest litigant,

must have a policy stating clearly the parameters when it should go to

the Court. The Constitution reflects quest and aspiration of the people

for justice when its Preamble speaks of justice in all its forms: social,

economic and political. Those who have suffered physically, mentally or

economically, approach the Courts, with great hope, for redressal of

their grievances. Justice System, therefore, is under an obligation to

deliver prompt and inexpensive justice to its citizens, without in any

manner compromising on the quality of justice or the elements of

fairness, equality and impartiality. Indian Courts are held in high esteem

not only by the developing but also by the developed countries. There is

wide-spread praise for the quality of the judgments delivered, and the

hard-work put in by Indian Judiciary. But, there is growing criticism,

sometimes from uninformed or ill-informed quarters, about the alleged

inability of our the Courts to effectively deal with and wipe out the huge

backlog of cases. We have One Constitution, One Indian Penal Code, One

Civil Procedure Code, One Criminal Procedure Code and One Evidence

Act. But, we do not have One Exam to appoint the Judges throughout the

Country on the lines of Indian Administrative Services and Indian Police

Services, although, it is envisaged in the Article 312. The Executive has

failed to implement the recommendations of the NCRWC and Law

Commission’s Report No 221, 230 and 245. Hence, this writ petition.

13. Long litigation delays have the effect of defeating justice in quite a

number of cases. As a result of such delays, the possibility cannot be

ruled out of loss of important evidence, because of fading of memory or

death of witnesses. The consequences, thus, would be that a party with

 even a strong case may lose it, not because of any fault of its own, but

because of the tardy judicial process, entailing disillusionment to all

those who at one time, set high hopes in courts. The delay in the

disposal of cases has affected not only the ordinary type of cases but

also those which by their very nature, crave for early relief. The problem

of delay and huge arrears stares us all and unless we do something

about it, the whole system would get crushed under its own weight. The

need of the hour is to guard against the system getting discredited and

people losing faith in it and taking recourse to extra legal remedies.

14. That in order to highlight the magnitude of the problem sought to

be raised in the instant Petition, the Petitioner seeks to place before this

Hon’ble Court certain statistics which would establish the level of

pendency as occurring, as on 1.1.2016.

Pendency in the Supreme Court 5,90,211

Cases more than five years old (approx) 12,000

Total Pendency in High Courts 40,05,704,

Pendency in subordinate courts 2,71,56,020,

Cases more than five years old 81,16,

Total Pendency in all Courts 3,11,61,724

Although this data is the old data, but it shows the seriousness of

the problem. Therefore, this Hon’ble Court may direct the government

to implement the Resolution dated 25.10.2009 urgently.

15. That it is the humble submission of the Petitioner herein that

judicial reform is the ability to address various changes resulting from

Internationalization, political / economic transformation, new

technologies etc. Initiating such reforms would require a consistent and

 sustained approach to ensure stability, continuity and adaptability to a

changing environment. It is further humbly submitted that the

opportunity to confront such challenges would aptly demonstrate the

dynamism of the judiciary to adopt and accept changes.

16. That in the modern era of judicial mechanism, it must be recognized

that having a simplified procedure in both civil and criminal cases is highly

significant. Pertinently, in the absence of any specific external influences on

the Indian judiciary and legal system we would be able to introduce a

system appropriate to the Courts as also to its users. The same would

reflect the ability of the judiciary to mold the system in accordance with

contemporary values and needs. It has to be highlighted that the simplified

procedure would enable courts to address time management and

introduce reformative hearing schedules for the Hon’ble Judges. As cost of

litigation has increasingly become substantial, such procedural reforms

would result in improving public confidence, accessibility and therefore

would contribute immeasurably in solving the problem at large. Such

simplification procedure may include simplified procedure for filing

complaints and applications, entitling litigants to represent themselves in

court, which would further held the citizens in better understanding our

judicial process, streamlining the hearing processes while at the same time

addressing the potential repercussion that a oversimplified or abrupt

hearing does not override the minimum requirement of standard of justice.

17. That introduction of Information Technology and computerization of

course would, in the humble submission of the Petitioner herein, further

enable rapid procedural and managerial reforms in the judiciary, apart

from efficient and easier maintenance of forms and records by the courts.
 Further and in this regard, facilities to establish networks between

different Courts in India would also enable easy dissemination of judicial

information apart from boosting, accountability and transparency.

18. The research and training division of different courts, especially in

the higher judiciary should be encouraged for conduct of analytical

research, which in turn would enhance credibility of the judicial institution

in the contemporary context. In this regard, it may be highlighted that in

the past, the research has been particularly focused only on few areas such

as legal terminology, court etiquette, physical structure of court buildings,

symbolism of courtrooms etc.

19. Implementation of provisions of Sections 156, 157, 158, 167 and

170 of Cr. P.C. and the procedure laid down under section 170 read with

section 173 of Cr.P.C is essential. There is clear provision under section

170 Cr.P.C to produce accused or with his bail bond along with

complainant and important witness in the court when the investigation

is completed and arrest of accused is made under section 41. However,

this provision is completely bypassed and even in petty offences, it is

not followed.

20. Instead of following section 170, in most of the cases, police arrest

accused and produce them before court and unanimously file charge

sheet at the end of 60 or 90 days. It is completely against Procedure and

though it continues in our courts.

21. Prevailing Arrest of Accused without complete investigation and

unanimous production in the court and thereafter delayed charge sheet

causes large time gap and it create another problem of securing

presence of accused to face trial and witness to testify. It overburdens

 both agency investigation as well as court. Procedure laid down u/s 170

is very important to render prompt and proper justice to society but

unfortunately not followed.

22. It’s a normal procedure without any exception to produce every

accused under section 167 before complete investigation. Further, in

the Production of Accused before magistrate when investigation cannot

be completed under section 167 no mandatory requirement is fulfilled

by investigation and in our criminal court without hesitation such

productions are accepted.

23. Mandatory conditions of section 167 like, production by PSO or

Police Officer not below the rank of sub inspector, case dairy and

reasons for arrest are overlooked except in the situations when

investigation demands police custody.

24. Procedure prevailing in the court is without any enquiry or

perusal our court accepts charge sheets submitted by police and takes

cognizance and issue process to accused. There is no existing system of

inspection by Public Prosecutor prior its submission in the Court.

25. It is clear mandate of Procedure Code for service of summon to

witness and accused may be through police in the local jurisdiction of

concerned magistrate and for outside jurisdiction summons should be

served through the concerned magistrate having jurisdiction. But this

provision is ignored in our courts and every summons supplied through

the local police stations. Further summons to public servant through his

superior Officer and in certain situation service of summon through

Registered Post also ignored resulted in pendency.

26. In the all criminal trial there is one crucial stage of discharge of

accused where there is no sufficient ground to frame charge or Plea u/s

227,239,245,257 of Cr.P.C.

27. Criminal courts are guided by Cr.P.C. in which evidence recording

procedure has been clearly mentioned, also specified kinds of trials

according to the seriousness of crime, i.e. 1) Summons trial 2) Warrant

Trial 3) Summary Trial. In summons trial evidence is required to be

taken down in substance and not in verbatim, while in warrant trial it is

in detail. Reference is made toSec.274, 275, 276 in Chapter 23 of Cr.P.C.

28. It is well established principle of evidence that oral evidence must

be relevant evidence u/s 5 to 16 of evidence Act and not otherwise. No

evidence is required to be allowed which is irrelevant per Section 5.

29. Relevancy rule has been completely neglected in criminal justice

delivery system. Cr.P.C Sec.320 has given list of offences, which can be

compounded with or without permission of court. Rest of the offences

are non compoundable.

30. In appropriate cases, power to apply for the withdrawal from the

prosecution u/s 321 Cr.P.C may liberally be allowed.

31. The Accused may also take recourse of plea bargaining under

chapter 21A of Cr.P.C.

32. There are clear and cogent provisions for adducing documentary

evidence in trial u/s 294 Cr.P.C and Sec.61 to 65 of evidence Act to

prove contents of documents by primary or secondary evidence.

33. Most striking reason of backlog of criminal cases is assessment

system of judicial officer. In the present assessment system points are

 calculated at the end of the trial and only work assessed which ends in

‘by judgment’ disposal.

34. The assessment system could have four different stages of one

criminal trial i.e. 1) Production, bail and remand up to registration of

charge-sheet 2) Cognizance u/s 190, charge, process or plea and

discharge 3) Statement of accused under 313 of Cr.P.C and 4) Hearing of

the arguments and passing of the Judgment.

35. It is incumbent on the Government to provide adequate funds at

the disposal of the High Courts for augmenting the infrastructure.

Pertinently, the National Judicial Academy has prepared National

Judicial Infrastructure Plan, which provides for upgrading and

augmenting judicial infrastructure such as buildings, equipment,

software, knowledge, resources, human resources, facilities and

systems, so as to make it capable of providing access to justice to all the

sections, particularly those belonging to lower strata of the society. The

programme envisages establishment of at least one well-equipped

functional Court, per one lakh of population, at a place accessible to the

common man. It proposes to develop new initiatives such as Mobile

Courts, Fast Track Courts and second shift in the existing courts, and

evolve suitable techniques and uniform practices and procedures,

aimed at reduction of delays and overcrowding of courts.

36. Article 235 of the Constitution of India vests control over District

Courts and subordinate courts thereto, in the High Court. In exercise of

this supervisory power, the High Courts are required to keep vigilance

on subordinate Judicial Officers so as to have a check on misadventures

by an errant officer. Inspection of subordinate courts is one of the most

 important functions, which the High Court performs for control over the

subordinate courts. The object of such inspection is assessment of the

work performed by a subordinate Judge, his capability, integrity and

competency. It also provides an opportunity to the Inspecting Judge to

point out the mistakes and deficiencies committed by the Judicial

Officer, so that he may improve his working. Remarks recorded by the

Inspecting Judge are normally endorsed by the Full Court in High Courts

such as Delhi and by a Committee of Judges in some other High Courts,

become part of Annual Confidential Report, and are foundations on

which the career of a Judicial Officer is made or marred. Inspection,

therefore, has to be both effective and productive. It should not be a

one-day or one-hour or few months’ routine but round the year,

monitoring of the work of Judicial Officers by the Inspecting Judge is

required. If used properly, this mechanism can be an effective tool in the

hands of the High Court, to keep a check on Judicial Officers, and for

regular assessment of their performance.

37. The Law Commission of India, in its 114th Report on Gram

Nyayalayas, suggested establishment of Gram Nyayalays so as to

provide speedy, inexpensive and substantial justice to a common man.

Based broadly on the recommendations of the Law Commission, Gram

Nyayalayas Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha and passed on 17th

December, 2008. Lok Sabha passed the Bill on 22nd December, 2008.

President of India gave assent to the Bill on 7th January, 2009. It

extends to the whole of India except to the States of Jammu & Kashmir,

Nagaland, Arunchal Pradesh and Sikkim. The Gram Nyayalays Act, 2008

provides for the establishment of Gram Nyayalays at the grass roots

 level for the purposes of providing assess to justice to the citizens at

their doorsteps and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are

not denied to any citizen by reason of social, economic or other

disabilities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

38. The concept of plea bargaining had been introduced in Cr.P.C. by

chapter XXIA. Certain salient features of plea bargaining are that it is

applicable to offences for which punishment is upto a period of 7 years.

However, the same does not apply to socio economic offences or any

offence against women or child. However, by judgment passed by this

Hon’ble Court in State of Uttar Pradesh Vs. Chandrika reported in AIR 1999

SC 164, it has been held by this Hon’ble Court that criminal cases cannot be

disposed of on the basis of plea bargaining, but on merits. Further it was

held that an accused cannot bargain with the Court that his sentence

should be reduced merely because he has pleaded guilty. After the

aforesaid judgment, Section 265A to Section 265L have been added in the

Cr.P.C. so as to provide for raising plea bargaining in certain type of

criminal cases. As such, it is humbly submitted that plea bargaining, though

fallacious and a disputed concept, nevertheless may be an acceptable

answer to speed up case disposition.

39. Litigation through the Courts and Tribunals established by the

State is one way of resolving the disputes. The Courts and Tribunals

adjudicate and resolve the dispute through adversarial method of

dispute resolution. Litigation as a method of dispute resolution leads to

a win-lose situation. Associated with this win-lose situation is growth of

animosity between the parties, which is not congenial for a peaceful

society. One party wins and other party is a loser in litigation, whereas
in Alternative Dispute Resolution, we try to achieve a win-win situation

for both the parties. Nobody is the loser and both parties feel satisfied at

the end of the day. If the ADR method is successful, it brings about a

satisfactory solution to the dispute and the parties will not only be

satisfied, the ill-will that would have existed between them will also end.

ADR methods especially Mediation and Conciliation not only address

the dispute, they also address the emotions underlying the dispute. In

fact, for ADR to be successful, first the emotions and ego existing

between the parties will have to be addressed. Once the emotions and

ego are effectively addressed, resolving the dispute becomes very easy.

This requires wisdom and skill of counseling on the part of the Mediator

or Conciliator. It is also equally important to strengthen the conciliatory

mechanism as provided for in various statutes as a pre condition before

formal proceedings can be initiated. By way of illustration, in labour

matters, if there were a robust conciliation mechanism, most of the

cases would be sorted out before they even reach before the Industrial

Tribunals. The mechanism must be manned by experts and not just

Assistant Labour Commissioners. Furthermore, the mechanism of

mediation, as provided in Section 89 CPC must be made a sine qua non

before matters go to formal trial. The alternative modes of disputes

resolution include arbitration, negotiation, mediation and conciliation.

The ADR system by nature of its process is totally different from Lok

Adalat. In Lok Adalat, parties are encouraged to come to compromise

and settlement on their own, whereas in the mediation and conciliation

system, the parties have before them many alternatives to solve their

difference or disputes. Instead of obtaining a judgment or decision, the

 parties through ADR might agree for a totally new arrangement, not

initially agreed or documented.

40. The main problem being faced in this regard in our Country is that

there are not many trained mediators and conciliators. Also, there are

very few trained personnel to impart training in Alternative Disputes

Resolution methods and pre-trial settlement of cases to prospective

mediators and conciliators including Judicial Officers and members of

the Bar. Judicial Officers are already overburdened and find no time to

adopt these modes of Alternative Disputes Resolution. Senior Judicial

Officers having 40 aptitude for ADR methods should be trained in

mediation, conciliation etc. and made incharge of mediation and

conciliation centers. They can also be asked to provide training to

prospective mediators and conciliators who can then undertake the task

of settlement of disputes by way of mediation/conciliation. However,

ultimately the responsibility of mediation has to be on the shoulders of

members of Bar. Code of Civil Procedure has recently been amended by

incorporating Section 89 with a view to bring alternative systems into

the mainstream. However , we are yet to develop a cadre of persons

who will be able to use these ADR methods in dispensing justice.

Lawyers by and large still believe that litigation is the only way of

resolving disputes. Litigants are also advised accordingly. The challenge

that we are facing today is bringing about awareness among the people

about the utility of ADR and simultaneously developing personnel who

will be able to use ADR methods effectively with integrity.

41. That every adjournment must be paid for by the party trying to

delay the proceedings as a great amount of valuable Court time adding

 to the pains of sufferers. Pertinently, this Hon’ble Court in Sanjeev Kr

Jain vs Raghubir Saran (2012) 1 SCC 455 has dealt with the relevant

provisions under the CPC for award of compensatory and punitive costs

in favour of the successful party. This Hon’ble Court had in this land

mark judgment suggested a hike in the quantum of costs on persons

indulging in frivolous and vexatious litigations, which are clogging up

the justice delivery system in the country.

42. The role of lawyers is very important in justice delivery system.

The commitment of these professionals can change the whole scenario.

Unfortunately, they are also responsible for delay due to varied reasons.

(i) Lawyers are not precise; they indulge in lengthy oral arguments just

to impress their clients. (ii) Lawyers are known to take adjournments

on frivolous grounds. (iii) A better preparation of the brief is bound to

increase the efficiency of the system. (iv) It is seen that lawyers often

resort to strikes. Lawyers should not resort to strike except "In rarest of

the rare cases" and instead, peaceful demonstrations should be held,

such as wearing of the arm band, so that courts’ working is not affected.

43. The Law Commission of India in its 100th Report observed that

bulk of litigation in courts, including, in particular, writ petitions in this

Hon’ble Court and the High Courts, consists of cases to which the

Government is a party. Therefore, prioritizing the cases to be pursued

by the Government and the manner in which those cases are conducted

can significantly contribute towards saving valuable court time. With

this objective, the Ministry of Law and Justice has drafted a National

Litigation Policy that seeks to guide the Government in acting as an

efficient and responsible litigant. Similarly, State Governments have also

 framed State Litigation Policies through which they have committed

that a review of the existing cases will be undertaken and wherever

found necessary, frivolous and ineffective cases will be withdrawn.

Empowered Committees have accordingly been constituted at the State

and District Levels to identify cases which have become ineffective and

infructuous with passage of time. Simultaneously, the High Courts have

advised the judicial officers and judges to invoke relevant provisions of

law such as Section 258 of CrPC, which relates to the power to stop

proceedings, to remove the deadwood from our judicial system.

Himachal Pradesh has framed Guidelines for withdrawal of stale and

ineffective criminal cases by the State in 2013. 35 The cases are mainly

petty offences and cases relating to traffic and police challan. The

guideline provide for detail procedure for identifying and removing

these cases from the judicial system. The proper implementation of

these policies at the National and State level can help in significantly

reducing the number of pending cases in courts. The National Mission

has been corresponding with the States regarding the implementation

of their State Litigation Policies. In this regard, a ten-point action plan

for effective implementation of the policies was evolved during the

National Consultation with State Governments and High Courts in

December, 2013. States have accordingly been requested to undertake a

Mission Mode Campaign for the reduction of government litigation and

to share details of the success of this campaign during the period from

July-December, 2014 with the National Mission.

44. This Hon’ble Court has recognized the right to speedy trial as

being a part of the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21

 of the Constitution and reiterated this position in a number of cases and

held that the right to be tried speedily is available to accused at all

stages, namely, investigation, inquiry, trial, appeal, revision and retrial.

Court has also stressed regarding need to fast track all types of criminal

cases so that justice can be delivered timely and expeditiously. Besides

recognizing the fundamental right to speedy trial, the Court has

repeatedly pointed to the need for proper implementation of existing

statutory provisions geared towards expeditious delivery of justice.

45. In Gurnaib Singh v. State of Punjab (2013) 7 SCC 108, this Hon’ble

Court emphasized that it is the primary duty of the trial judge to

monitor the criminal trial process and ensure that it takes place in

accordance with the provisions of the CrPC. The Trial Court should not

allow the parties or their counsel to control the trial process. Based on

the records of examination-in-chief, cross-examination, adjournments

granted in the case, the Court found that the case was conducted in a

piecemeal manner and the entire trial was at the mercy of the counsel.

Reiterating the views expressed in previous cases, the Court noted that

the mandate of Section 309, CrPC of holding trial expeditiously and

examining witnesses on day to day basis ought to be properly followed.

The Court also observed that witnesses are often made to wait from

morning till evening only to be told at the end of the day that the case

has been adjourned to another day. Allowing repeated adjournments

causes inconvenience to witnesses and creates circumstances for their

harassment by the opposite party.

46. This Hon’ble Court in Thana Singh v. State of Central Bureau of

Narcotics (2013) 2 SCC 603 issued certain directions applicable to cases

 under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The

directions inter-alia related to restrictions on grant of adjournments

and creating an environment that encourages witnesses to come

forward and give testimony. The Court observed in this regard that “it

would be prudent to return to the erstwhile method of holding “sessions

trial” i.e. conducting examination and cross examination of a witness in

consecutive days over a block period of three to four days”. This would

permit a witness to take the stands after making one time arrangement

for travel and accommodation. Accordingly, this Hon’ble Court directed

the concerned courts to adopt the method of “session’s trial” and assign

block dates for examination of witnesses. The Court advised concerned

courts to make use of Section 293, Cr.P.C to take evidence from official

witnesses in the form of affidavits so as to expedite the proceedings.

47. The Law Commission of India in its 245th report titled “Arrears

and Backlog: Creating Additional Judicial Manpower” made several

recommendations relating to reducing arrears and delays in courts. This

report was prepared pursuant to the directions of this Hon’ble Court in

the case of Imtiyaz Ahmad v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2012) 2 SCC 688.

The Law Commission has recommended using the “Rate of Disposal

Method” for calculating adequate judge strength required in district and

subordinate courts in various States. This method involves the

assessment of the present rate at which judges in various courts dispose

cases and using that efficiency rate to determine the number of judges

required to dispose the new cases being instituted and the existing

backlog of cases. The other recommendations of the Law Commission in

the Report include increasing the retirement age of judges of

 subordinate courts, creation of special morning and evening courts for

traffic/ police challan cases, provision of adequate staff and

infrastructure for the working of additional courts and enabling uniform

data collection and data management method by High Courts in order to

ensure transparency and to facilitate data based policy prescriptions for

the judicial system. Further, the Law Commission of India has in its

246th report titled “Amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act

1996” recommended various changes focused at plugging the loopholes

in the existing arbitration law and achieving minimal court intervention

in arbitration matters. The Law Commission has suggested suitable

amendments to the current law to expedite the conduct of arbitral

proceedings; restrict the grounds to challenge international arbitral

awards and promote institutional arbitration.

48. Right to speedy justice is not a fact or fiction but a Constitutional

reality and it has to be given its due respect. If the administration of

justice delivery system is to yield good results then the courts have to

act with greater promptitude. A guilty person deserves to be punished

promptly and an innocent should be released immediately because his

protractions in the legal system can be most traumatic.

49. The time has come when the judicial system has to be revamped

and restructured so that injustice does not occur and disfigure fair and

otherwise luminous face of our nascent democracy. The inordinate

delay has become a common feature of judicial system. The dictum

'Justice Delayed' postulates that unreasonable delay in administration of

justice constitutes an unconscionable denial of justice. In every civilized

society there are two sets of laws: Substantive Law and Procedural Law.
 Substantive law determines rights and obligation of citizens. But

efficacy of substantive laws depends upon procedural laws.

50. The right to a speedy trial is first mentioned in the landmark

document of English law, the Magna Carta. The right to a speedy trial

finds expression in the United States of America's Constitution, State

Constitutions, State and Federal Statutory Law and State and Federal

case law. In United States, the right to speedy trial has been derived

from a provision of Megna Carta and this right was interpreted and

incorporated into the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776 and from

there into the 6th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The

right to speedy trial is an important safeguard to prevent undue and

oppressive incarceration prior to trial, to minimize anxiety and concern

accompanying public accusation and to limit the possibility that long

delay will impair the ability of an accused to defend himself. The

guarantee of a speedy trial is one of the most basic rights preserved by

the American Constitution, it is one of those fundamental liberties

embodied in the Bill of Rights which due process Clause of the 14th

Amendment make applicable to the State. The protection afforded by

this guarantee is activated only when a criminal prosecution has begun

and extends only to those persons who have been accused in the course

of the prosecution.

51. The problem of delay in disposal of case is not a new problem in

India and has been in existence since a long time. However, it has now

acquired terrific proportions. On the one hand, it has put the judicial

system under strain and on the other hand, it has shaken the confidence

of the people also. All the delay and lack of accountability and half baked
 schemes amount to a daily mockery of the fundamental right to speedy

trial. The Supreme Court has time and again made it clear that "speedy

trial is the essence to criminal justice and there can be no doubt that the

delay in trial by itself constitutes denial of justice". It has further added

that there can be no doubt that speedy trial - and by speedy trial we

mean a reasonable expeditious trial - is an integral and essential part of

fundamental right to life and liberty enshrined in Article 21 of the

Constitution. It is a very important obligation. Even apart from Article

21 the constitutional mandate for speedy justice is inescapable. The

Preamble to the Constitution of India enjoins the State to secure social,

economic and political justice to all its citizens. Further, the Directive

Principles of State Policy declare that the state should strive for a social

order in which such justice shall inform all the institutions of national

life under Article 38(1).

52. The paramount purpose of speedy trial is to safeguard the

innocent from undue punishments but prolonged pendency has created

unaccountable barriers in this regard. Huge numbers of cases are

pending for years together, which create mental and economic

pressures on the litigants.

53. The Indian Judiciary would take 320 years to clear the backlog of

about 31.28 million cases pending in various courts in India. The reason

for backlog of cases pending is inadequate judge strength which is 13.05

judges per one million people, as against Australia 58 per million in

Canada's 75, the United Kingdom 100 and the United States of America

130 per million. In 2002, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to

raise the judge - population ration to 50 per million in a phased manner,

 as recommended by the Law Commission in its 120th report. The

suggestion has had little effect. Besides this, there are number of factors,

which are solely responsible for the arrears of cases. Broadly, there are

two factors, viz., procedural and substantive. The procedural factors

responsible for the delay in disposal of cases are: (i) Pre-trial delays (ii)

Delay during trial (iii) delay during appellate proceedings and (iv) delay

during the execution proceedings. On the other hand, substantive

factors include: (i) judicial vacancies/delay in appointment of judge, (ii)

lack of accountability of judges, (iii) to many vacations in the courts, (iv)

misuse of public interest litigation, (v) witnesses turning hostile (vi)

writ jurisdictions and (vii) delay by the judges. In addition to these, the

other causes attributed for delay are: inadequate numbers of courts,

judicial officers are not being fully equipped to tackle cases involving

specialized knowledge, dilatory tactics adopted by litigants and lawyers,

who seek frequent adjournments and delay filing documents etc.

54. The concept of speedy justice is sine qua non of criminal

jurisprudence. The researcher find that a number of Committees were

constituted to examine the problem of delay and the first Committee

named as Justice Rankin Committee was set up. Since then several

Committees have put forth recommendations. These include the PRS

Legislative Research, Pendency of Cases in Indian Courts, Justice S.R.

Das High Court Arrears Committee (1949), The Trevor Harris

Committee in West Bengal (1949), the Wanchoo Committee in Uttar

Pradesh (1950), Justice J.C. Shah Committee (1972), Statish Chandra

Committee (1986) and the Malimath Committee (1990, 2000). At the

Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Ministers, both the Prime Minister
 and the Chief Justice of India promoted reforms to ensure speedy

justice. On October 24-25, 2009, Members of the Supreme Court and

High Courts, Ministry of Law and Justice, Bar Council, and faculty of

Indian Law Institute and other academic institutions gathered for a

"National Consultation for Strengthening the Judiciary towards

Reducing Pendency and Delays".

55. Various reports on judicial Reforms have been submitted by the

Law Commissions after in depth study, which have dealt with various

aspects of Law-substantive and procedural. The Law Commission has

addressed the issue in several reports since 1955: the 14th 38th 78th

79th 80th 117th 120th 121th 124th 125th 154th 139th 197th 221th

222th 229th 230th and 245th reports dealt with issues of delay, pendency

and arrears. It is manifestly clear that many of the important

recommendations, made by the Law Commission of India, from time to

time, have not been implemented by the Government. In its 239th

Report the Law Commission of India suggested amendment to Code of

Criminal Procedure, 1973 are desirable by which the High Courts will

assume more proactive role in taking various measures. However, the

Government has not yet considered this proposal.

56. The recommendations regarding Court Management, Case

Management were also made by the Law Commission of India. Further,

a proposal was mooted and placed before the Chief Justice of India

emphasizing the need for a comprehensive 'National Court Management

Systems' for the Country that will enhance the quality, responsiveness

and timeliness of Court. The Chief Justice of India after consultation with

the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, established

 National Court Management Systems by Order dated 02.05.2012, which

states that the National Court Management for enhancing timely justice

is established under overall control of the Chief Justice of India.

57. The United States of America is the first country in the world

which has enacted its Speedy Trial Act, 1974 and similarly in

Philippines, the government has enacted a Speedy Trial Act of 1998

which ensures a speedy trial of all criminal cases. The Speedy right is an

important concept in American law and the Speedy Trial Act of 1974

represents a well studied attempt to safeguard the vitality of the 6th

Amendment right. The right to speedy trial is commonly thought to be a

right of an accused, but it actually benefits the society as a whole and

not just individual defendant's. It reduces the time that an accused may

suffer from personal anxiety and public suspicion. Also, it minimizes the

chances that defences will be prejudiced because of the disappearance

of witnesses or the fading of memories over time. On the whole, the

right enhances the integrity and fairness of an entire criminal

proceeding. In Japan, both the defendant and the government have a

right to speedy trial. Right to speedy trial is implicit in Article 37(i) of

the Japan's Constitution. In Nepal, the Common Code (Muluki Ain)

prescribes the time frame for the completion of a trial by the Court.

Similarly, Article 27 of the Constitution of Republic of Korea provides

that all citizens shall have the right to trial in conformity with the Act by

judges qualified under the Constitution and the Act.

58. There is growing dissatisfaction regarding the functioning of the

executive and the legislature due to their inability to deliver effective

governance to meet the needs and challenges of our times. In this

 background, it is a matter of great satisfaction that the public at large

continues to hold the judiciary in high esteem. The judiciary, as

custodians and watchdogs of fundamental rights of our people, is

shouldering and discharging its responsibility very well indeed. But it is

always wise to remain alert and watch out for the cracks and seat it

swiftly. The problem of delayed disposal of cases is one of the most

visible cracks and the same has reached alarming proportion during the

last three decades.

59. It is a truism that in a fair society laws are observed by both states

and citizens. And social conflicts that arise are resolved through fair and

prompt judicial decisions. The Constitution of India imposes heavy duty

on the judicial system for providing legal mechanism to deal with the

problems relating to imparting justice. Since independence and the

promulgation of our Constitution, rapid strides have been made in

almost all fields. The communication revolution has opened the eyes,

ears and minds of millions of people resulting in increasing expectations

of an ever growing population. The desire for quick, fair and affordable

justice has become a common phenomena. On the other hand, there has

been phenomenal increase in rate of crimes in society, the nature of

crime, means and methods of committing crimes have also considerably

changed. All this has posed a number of problems to law enforcement

agencies. Delay in disposal of cases is a normal feature in the country

and a number of efforts have been made to counter this evil practice but

it seems that it will stay in the society. The Court in India at different

levels decides cases but pending cases are increasing day by day. The

Courts take years to decide a case. It has rightly been said that the most
 glaring malady, which has afflicted the judicial system is the tardy

process and inordinate delay that takes place in the disposal of cases.

The piling arrears and accumulated workload of different courts present

a frightening scenario. As a matter of fact, the whole system is

crumbling down beneath the weight of pending cases which go on

increasing every day.

60. These problems do not have an instant solution. For each problem

there are number of reasons which need to be tackled, however, it

requires a lot of time and will power on the part of the Parliamentarian

of the nation to tackle the situation. Till the time it is done, the country

has to move on. Disputes will keep emerging and if not resolved, they

shall keep on piling making life difficult for everyone in the society. In

every civilization, and India is no exception, pursuit of justice is

instinctive. It is an individual and societal instinct and every society

strives to attain it through its legal system. The degree of perfection

attained by a legal system may be measured by the extent to which it

exists in good instinct for justice system to express itself to find its

fulfillment. Not every legal system succeeds in this goal. Sometimes a

legal system fails to achieve its purpose because of defects and

deficiencies in its substantive laws and sometimes mainly because of

infirmities in its procedural rules. Fortunately, the judicial system is

well organized with high level of integrity and has been able to develop

a system of Alternative Disputes Resolution. The Alterative Disputes

Resolution mechanisms are in addition to courts and complement them.

This mechanism is playing an important role in doing away with delays

and conjunction in Courts. The Alternative Disputes Resolution

 Strategies include: arbitration, negotiation, mediation, conciliation,

counseling and Lok Adalats. Lok Adalats strategy gives a feeling of

tremendous satisfaction and encouragement and upto 31.3.2012 more

than 1, 120, 232 Lok Adalats have been held and therein 43, 041, 883

case have been amicable settled. A sum of Rs. 115, 821,527,600 were

distributed by way of compensation to those who suffered accident.

61. Further, a number of other relevant reforms and initiatives were

taken to accelerate the disposal of cases and to remove the bottlenecks

coming in the way of providing speedy and inexpensive Justice. These

include: Fast Track Courts; Plea Bargaining; Use of Technology in Case

Management; Specialization, Training and Qualifications for judges;

Video Conferencing; shift system subordinate courts; ecourt; National

Legal Mission -Action Plan Implementation etc. So the problem of delay

in disposing of cases should be nipped in the bud. If due emphasis is not

given to this problem, it may here cataclysmic effect on the whole

society. If this problem is allowed to impregnate then the possibility is

that the load of pending cases would be so much that we would reach a

point of no return, where people would have to go away from courts

without justice. The Court would become the Centre of denial of Justice,

antithesis of what is meant for. Thus it is an apocalypse of the eventual

happening. There has to be a sincere and serious endeavour on the part

of every member of the legal fraternity to annihilate the problem

collectively. If this is not done on a priority basis, it would not only be

the defeat of our constitutional philosophy but also contribute to the

collapse of the entire judicial system. Today, we need a legal system

which has the ability to deliver the best quality of justice at least cost
 and in the shortest time. We are certainly reminded of a pertinent

observation made by Hon'ble Justice D.A. Desai, Chairman (the then),

Law Commission of India, who has rightly pointed out : "In view of the

over rising graph of arrears, tinkering at the fringes for from yielding

the desired results, have further aggravated the situation. The

consumers of justice have been patiently waiting for justice to become

people oriented".

62. It is worthwhile to mention here that unless prompt and effective

efforts are taken to ensure that justice becomes a inexpensive and

expeditious, the entire system is likely to collapse underneath its

weight. Sabyasaachi Mukherjee, the then Chief Justice of India, has

rightly expounded the need to simplify the judicial system, revive the

indigenous system and devise further means to ease the pressure on the

court. The judiciary in India is expected to be the sentinel, sword, and

shield of rights of the humblest millions with an assurance to bring

justice to even the lowest of the law in an swift and expeditious manner.

63. The Constitution of India reflects the quest and aspiration of the

people when its preamble speaks of justice in all its forms: social,

economic and political. Those who have suffered physically, mentally or

economically, approach the Courts, with great hope, for redressal of

their grievances. They refrain from taking law into their own hands, as

they believe that one day or the other, sooner or later they would get

justice from the Courts. Justice Delivery System, therefore, is under an

obligation to deliver prompt and inexpensive justice to its consumers,

without in any manner compromising on the quality of justice or the

elements of fairness, equality and impartiality. Further, if the right of

 any person is infringed in any manner or there is a threat to his liberty,

he must have access to justice. Speedy trial, which is implied under

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, is one of the dimensions of access

to justice. Unless there is a speedy disposal of cases, there cannot be real

access to justice. Justice that comes too late has no meaning to the

person it is meant for.

64. The justice delivery system in India has been cancerously sick

with the well-known disease of "delay in justice dispensation". Justice

should not only be done but should also appear to have been done.

Similarly, whereas justice delayed is justice denied, justice withheld is

even worse than that. Therefore, to reduce the mounting arrears of

cases and inordinate delay in disposal of cases, several initiatives have

been taken from time to time but the result is not very encouraging.

65. A solution to the problem can be obtained by assessing the

requirements of a system which would deliver justice to a large number

of litigants. The large intake of cases requires an increase in the number

of courts, each with a judicial officer and corresponding infrastructure.

There is also a huge backlog of pending cases and this backlog is

increasing day by day. Each case requires a certain minimum of

processing time at various levels of the court process including the time

required for a judge to study the case and dispose it as per law. Such

requirement of time has to be planned beforehand and infrastructure

should be developed accordingly for each court. It does not appear

rational that everyone keep on complaining about the backlog of cases

in Courts and yet there is never a proper proposal made for increasing

the number of courts to cater to the large intake of cases and pending
 backlog. The pending cases cannot become zero overnight and

processing time for each case cannot be reduced by magic. The number

of courts will have to be increased to dispose of the backlog. A system

should not exist only to perpetuate itself without serving the real

objective for which it is established. The judicial system should serve

the useful purpose of rendering justice within a reasonable time. If

people don't get their cases decided within a reasonable period of time,

the system is not serving its purpose and it has to be reformed. So to

dispose of the pending cases, there is a need of at least four-fold

increase in the number of judicial officers.

66. In this era of globalization and rapid technological developments,

which is affecting almost all economies and presenting new challenges

and opportunities, judiciary cannot lag behind and has to be fully

prepared to meet the challenge of the age. Dispensation of justice by

adopting Information Technology has been advocated in Western

Countries for the last two or three decades, but in India hardly any

worthwhile effort has been made, particularly in judicial administration

of subordinate courts of our country. Extensive use of Information

Technology by judicial organ around the world has resulted in enhanced

efficiency, effectiveness and optimal use of resources. Most of the

bottlenecks identified by the judicial Commissions and Committees

referring to delays, arrears and backlog can be partly tackled if a sound

judicial management information system is introduced in India. Inter-

Court and Inter-Court communication facilities, developed through use

of Internet and video conferencing will not only save time but also

increase speed, efficiency and to render speedy justice. It is not enough

 to provide computers to the Registrar and to the Judges. They must

know how to use the computers efficiently and effectively. There needs

to be a systematic training of Court Staff in the use of computers and

even for Judges who can get tremendous help from various kinds of

programmes that are available on computers such as CDs of case laws,

information from the internet and research facilities from specialized

websites dealing with legal topics.

67. The increasing backlog of cases is posing a big threat to our

judicial system. The same was even more in the early nineties but due to

the computerization process in the Supreme Court and other courts the

same has been reduced to a great extent. However, the backlog is still

alarming. This is because mere computerization of courts or other

constitutional offices will not make any difference. What we need is a

will and desire to use the same for speedy disposal of various

assignments. There is a lack of training among judges regarding use of

Information Technology. This resource is based on the ground reality

that mere computerization will not serve the purpose. However, the

need of the hour is greater than mere provision of computers. For

instance, there was a proposal in the Delhi High Court for connection of

the computers of the concerned judges to the Central computer. Thus,

whenever something is typed it would automatically go to the central

computer and from there we can have the "Certified copies" of the

concerned documents. This proposal has been applied to a great extent

and now it is much easier to get the certified copies. Further, cause lists,

name of the Judges, Courts numbers, name of the lawyers, etc. are all

available on the Internet and the same has also facilitated speedier
disposal of cases. However, we need more, we need a complete

utilization of IT for the effective disposal of cases and witness

protection. Video Conferencing has been talked about for quite some

time but it is not being implemented which is a little surprising because

it is one way of reducing costs, particularly in matters pertaining to

under trials. If video conferencing facility is introduced, the cases can be

recovered at an early date. For instance, we can use the facility of "Video

Conferencing" on a large scale. Presently, it is used in some cases. It is

not uncommon for the criminal cases getting adjourned an account of

inability of the police or jail authorities to produce the accused in the

court. Sometimes the witnesses are residing at far off places or even

abroad. It is not convenient for them to attend the Court at the cost of

considerable time and expense. Video Conferencing is a convenient,

secure and less expensive option, for recording evidence of the

witnesses who are not local residents or who are afraid of giving

evidence in open court, particularly in trial of gangsters and hardened

criminals, besides saving the time and expenses of travelling. On the

other hand, the Courts communicate with the Advocates/litigants

through the process serving agency or the conventional postal system. It

is possible to generate notices, summons etc. on computer and serve

them through the use of electronic communications such as Email.

Faster Communication will lead to faster progress of the case and

eventually help in reducing arrears. Further, E-filing has been

introduced in Supreme Court and the same should be started at other

Courts also. There is also a need to start E-Court which are supposed to

be paperless Court. In E-Court, case file is displayed on the monitor,

 orders are passed by the judges using dictation software and are

digitally signed and then delivered through E-mail. There is a need to

explore possibility of having E-Court at High Court level. We can use the

medium of Internet for filing of cases, bail applications; serving of

nofices, etc. thus, much is still to be achieved.

68. There is a dire need of the hour to create a more effective judicial

administration in India. Under Article 312 of the Constitution of India,

Parliament is empowered to establish an All India Judicial Service, and a

number of Law Commission Reports and other reports have advocated

this. The creation of an All India Judicial Service would be extremely

useful in addressing the problem of arrears in the Judicial system.

69. Appointment of judges should be made by National Judicial

Commission consisting of Senior Supreme Court Judges and Eminent

Jurists in order to accelerate the process of appointments

commensurate to the vacancies and avoid political arbitrariness. The

National Judicial Commission should regulate appointment of judges to

lower, higher and specialized tribunals and such National judicial

commission should have the power to ensure strict judicial discipline.

The National Judicial Commission could provide information and

evaluation of individual judges, and report on how individual judges are

performing in addressing delays and arrears.

70. National Judicial Academy (NJA) has been set up with the

objective of training of judicial officers of the States, Union Territories,

organizing Conferences and Seminars relating to Court Management

and Administration of Justice. Judicial academies have also been set up

in almost all states. Establishment of Judicial academies are an

 important step towards judicial reform but these academies need to be

revitalized and the expenditure on the improvement of judicial system

should be considered as an investment. Such Judicial Academies should

establish Research Centers on Judicial Reforms including subjects such

as arrears of cases. The National Judicial Education Strategy, prepared

by National Judicial Academy, seeks to enhance the performance of

Judges by equipping them with better knowledge, tools and techniques,

Court management process and arrears reduction methodologies.

71. Extensive training of Judges at the grass roots level is extremely

important and if judgments at the district level are of a high quality, the

number of revisions and appeals may be reduced which ultimately will

reduce the arrears of cases. The Court particularly. High Courts must

show initiative in this regard and try and give more strength and vigour

to the Judicial Academies by holding constant programmes for training

of Judicial Officers in the districts. Performance indicators have

although been prepared by all High Courts but these need to be

reconsidered because in some of the High Courts they are completely

outdated and do not reflect ground realities.

72. In the concept of 'divine right of kings', the king, who used to be

considered as incarnation of God, besides being head of administrative

wing, the supreme commander of the armed forces, also functioned as

the fountain-head of justice. The general belief for those who believed in

the theory of divine right of kings was that "king can do no wrong." The

judges, too in the eyes of general public had a concept of divinity and the

common man had such faith and belief that the judges having the

concept of divinity in them knew everything on the universe and could

 not do any wrong. Even till the later part of 20th century, not only in our

country, but in other countries like England, USA, the common view was

that the judges did not require any training and their vast experience at

the Bar coupled with intellect and instinct for fairness was considered

enough. Educating Judges on judicial functions and training them on

how to judge properly as a matter of fact are relatively new ideas which

even till date are not yet accepted fully by the judicial fraternity as a

whole. Some of the judges still believe that the same, in one way or the

other, may amount to interference with judicial independence whereas

others resent the idea of educating the Judges on the ground that the

same amount to questioning their capacity and competence. However,

with the explosion in knowledge and with the diversification of complex

litigation, there has been increasing demand from many Judges

themselves for the programmes of continuing education, tailored to

specific problems and needs. The need for mandatory judicial education

is now acknowledged throughout the world in one form or the other.

73. In our country despite realizing the importance of Judicial

Education and repeated recommendations from various Commissions

and Committees the pre-service Institutional training to the new

entrants and in-service training of Judicial Officers already in service

had not received the desired attention.

74. The question is as to why such training is necessary for judicial

functionaries. Some may have feeling that after basic routine education

and professional education in Law College, coupled with some years of

experience at Bar, why should one be required to have Judicial

Education. Undoubtly, a person after considerable experience at the Bar

 acquires that sort of legal knowledge but the fact remains that probably

he would have not acquired the package of skills needed for his new

role as Judge. The requirements of the job of a Judge decidedly differ

substantially from that of an advocate. The judge needs to be able to

preside over a courtroom, to be able to make reasoned decisions, to

write a properly structured judgment and above all to listen rather than

to talk. So, it is absolutely essential that a judge should fully understand

the rules of procedure and evidence whether criminal or civil. He must

be able to deal with disruptive people and with reluctant witnesses in

his courtroom. He must have an understanding of the different ways

and customs of all those who appear in front of him, whatever be their

race, religion, gender, social background or state of health may be. The

lack of appropriate knowledge on the part of the judge in the subject

matter of his jurisdiction is bound to lead to delay and at times may

even lead to a wrong exercise of discretion or a wrong decision not

warranted by facts or law applicable leading to multiplicity of litigation.

75. Judicial Education has an equally important role to play in so far

as a better court management is concerned. The concept of court

management, though of recent origin, yet it has gained considerable

importance because it has been tried and tested in many parts of the

world and has been found to be a successful method of controlling the

huge back log of cases. Court management, as such, was first introduced

in the United States of America in the year 1972 and over the years it

has gained so much importance that now it has now become imperative

for all courts to use court management techniques to reduce caseloads.

So far our country is concerned a lot requires to be done in the area of

 court management techniques. It is high time that court management is

taken out of the control of judges and entrusted to trained adjudicators

who should be made accountable to the task of modernizing,

maintaining and showing performance at all levels of judicial

establishment. Judicial time should be devoted to judicial work only.

76. Witnesses turning hostile are one of the contributing factors for

the delay in the expeditious delivery of justice. To protect a witness

from turning hostile, the trial should be conducted in such a way that

the witness does not come face-to-face with the accused, as it would

help in reducing the psychological fear to a great extent. This could be

done by not producing the accused in the court while the witness is

deposing his testimony. Further the name of the witnesses should not

be disclosed to the accused or his lawyers. The identity of witness

should be changed and he should be kept under special protection. The

evidence of the witness should be video recorded in front of a

Magistrate or the investigating officer of the case. This video-recorded

statement should be made to three authenticated copies and the original

should be sealed and presented to the court as evidence. This would

ensure that the witness does not retract his statement later on and

would also prevent tampering of the tapes.

77. Sections 191-193 of the Indian Penal Code deals with perjury. As

per these provisions, a witness who turns hostile shall be punished with

imprisonment of either description for a term, which may extend to

seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. A hostile witness is no less

than a rebellious violator of law. But our courts are customarily gracious

to ignore or let off hostile witnesses thereby impairing the prosecution

 case. There may be untenable reasoning that if the hostile witnesses are

taken to task by the courts, the prosecution may face more difficult

situations to procure the evidence. These loose arguments cannot justify

a lenient attitude towards hostile witnesses. Even in most sensational

and heinous crimes like rape, murder, dacoity etc., the conviction rate is

most appalling and palpably low. Such a situation shakes confidence of

the people in the judiciary. But some ray of hope has arisen after the

Zahira Sheikh's conviction for perjury. It is hoped that the courts adopt

similar approach in dealing with hostile witnesses.

78. Justice is not something which can be captured and captivated, in

rigid formulae once for all and immutability and immortality cannot be

attributed to the said principles. It is a perpetual process, a complex and

shifting balance between many oscillating factors. The quest for the

justice has been as challenging as the quest for the holy grave and as

elusive as an angelic glow. The need of the hour is to endeavour to

create justice, which is perceivable, permeable, and productive of values

and peace in the society. The stream of justice should not be hindered or

polluted by hostility of witnesses. Time has come to work for it.

79. Revamping of the legal education is another aspect, which needs

to be stressed because the real answer for most legal reform lies in

reforming the legal education in the country, which will ultimately lead

to the improvement of the overall situation in the judiciary. The quality

of legal education imparted to a student or a prospective advocate plays

an important role in the sense that it is at that stage he should be

motivated to perceive the profession as the one essentially meant for

social and public good and that he should do everything at his command
 for the speedy and proper disposal of cases without being unduly

influenced by his own individual interest only. Although in recent years,

large numbers of law schools have mushroomed in almost every State,

but the quality of legal education imparted in these schools is pathetic

and it does not match upto the challenges of the profession. Some

reforms aimed at improving the legal education have been undertaken

recently in the country, but much remains to be done.

80. Money spent on improving legal education should be considered

as an investment. In this regard the Bar Council's proposal to shut down

evening Law Colleges and close down three-year law courses in favour

of five year integrated courses should be deliberated upon seriously.

There is an eminent need to improve the quality of persons entering the

legal profession. Appropriate filters in the form of strict examinations

for entry into law colleges and the Bar should be put in place so as to

ensure that only the very best find their place in the legal profession and

not those for whom there is no hope in any other profession.

GROUNDS AND SUGGESTIONS

In addition to the above, additional grounds and suggestions are as thus:

81. There is a need to enact a comprehensive law on the Speedy Trial

on the lines of 'The Speedy Trial Act, 1974' as prevalent in United States

of America and the same should apply to the both citizens and non-

citizens. As there is no 'Speedy Trial Act' in India, criminal justice has

not always moved swiftly in India. The existing laws are not sufficient

for Right to Speedy Trial under Criminal Justice System in India.

Therefore, 'The Speedy trial Act' is urgently needed. The Speedy Trial

Act in India will to serve two purposes. Firstly, to prevent accused from
 languishing in jail for an indefinite period before trial. Pre-trial

incarceration is a deprivation of liberty no less serious than post

conviction imprisonment. In some cases pretrial incarceration may be

more serious because public scrutiny is often heightened, employment

is commonly interrupted, financial resources are diminished, family

relations are strained, and innocent persons are forced to suffer

prolonged injury to reputation. Secondly, to ensure an accused's right to

a fair trial. The longer the commencement of trial is postponed, the

more likely it is that witnesses will disappear, memories will fade, and

evidence will be lost or destroyed. Of course, both the prosecution and

the defense are threatened by these dangers, but only the accused's life,

liberty, and property are at stake in a criminal proceeding.

82. There is need to incorporate provisions in Code of Criminal

Procedure namely (1) delay should be avoided, (2) simplicity of

procedure, (3) fair deal to the poorer sections of society and of course a

fair trial in every case according to the principles of natural justice.

83. In a vast majority of cases, adjournments are taken on false

pretexts, and the law does not have any appropriate method to tackle

them. The need of the hour is to have a strict view on adjournments.

84. Every transfer of a judge involves repetitive and wasteful

procedures which involve delays, deceleration in the process of disposal

and unwanted adjournments. So the procedure regarding transfer

should be made as simple as it can be within the shortest possible time.

85. Once a trial court completes recording of evidence and hearing of

arguments of advocates, it should be made mandatory for the judge to

deliver the judgment within a maximum time limit of 30 days thereafter.

86. There is a need to establish Magistrate Courts within the prison

premises. It would not only save time but would also avoid bringing the

accused to courts by handcuffing etc.

87. Serving summons and warrant notices is another area which

takes a lot of time. Hence, special steps should be taken to reduce time-

consumption, modern gadgets such as phones, wireless systems, fax

machines, internet facilities connected with police headquarters should

be accepted as valid mode and should be made accessible to both Civil

and Criminal Courts so that summons and notices can be sent faster.

88. No oral evidence be insisted where matter rests solely on

documentary evidence. Evidence should be tape-recorded or recorded

by short-hand stenographers and a verbatim record should be kept in

the Court which can be used while delivering decisions.

89. There is a need to reduce the vacations of Judges and Subordinate

staff i.e. summer vacation, winter vacation, puja vacation etc. and the

judges should sit for the whole day so that the maximum number of

cases can be disposed of. The system of vacations is legacy of the

colonial rule. The situation as the country is facing demand that courts

should do away with such long vacations. Every Court including Apex

Court must function at least six hours per days and 225 days per year.

90. There is a need to avoid double numbering system of proceedings

i.e. first time inward entry should be the final number of the proceeding

as it will save time. There is need to reduce pre-trial scrutiny only to

verify payment of proper court fees and other objections to be taken up

by other side and fix a time limit. Preparation and Service of Summons

should be allowed mainly through Advocates.

91. The need is to give emphasis on final disposal of matters than on

disposing interim applications and, therefore, interlocutory orders

should be an exception rather than the rule. Interim orders should not

result in prolongation of the case.

92. In recording the plea of the accused, answers to each allegation

should be recorded. Where an Advocate is appointed, presence of

parties should be insisted upon only at crucial stages of trial. Copies of

Judgments should be given in open court to parties and the same will

save the time of the litigant. The judges are required to give precise and

concise judgments. Lengthy judgments consume much of the time of the

Judges as well as the court staff. Writing separate judgments even when

the judges are concurring make the exercise time-consuming and

confusing. Thereby it becomes different to find the ratio in quick time.

Supreme Court and High Court decisions ought to be published by those

Courts just as the Acts and Rules published by the Government, since

those decisions are constitutionally binding on lower courts.

93. There is a need to make Arbitration procedure applicable to all

courts and all complicated civil and criminal procedures which are the

root cause of the delays should be abolished. Sincere attempts should be

made to set up more specialized tribunals and reduce load on courts.

94. There must be a process of progressive and massive

decriminalization of offences now recognized and made culpable as

penal offences. They should be treated as merely actionable wrongs for

which compensation and not punitive action is the appropriate remedy.

95. The class of compoundable offences under IPC and other laws

should be widened. In the disposal of arrears of criminal cases,

 experienced criminal lawyers be requested to work as part-time judges

on a particular stipulated number of days on the pattern of 'Records and

Assistant Records' in United Kingdom. There is an existing provision in

CrPC for honorary Judicial Magistrates, which has not been utilized yet.

96. Magistrates and Sessions Judges while remanding person under

trial to judicial custody should clearly indicate in the very order of

remand the date of termination of the same. That is, the judicial

remands should be self-limiting and should indicate the date on which

the under-trial prisoner would automatically be entitled to get bail in

terms of the conditions prescribed by the Supreme Court.

97. There should be a comprehensive regular training and orientation

programmes for all judicial officers and Court administration. A good

training programme serves the futuristic need of the system by

improving the potential to optimum level. The training needs to include

Court and Case Management besides methods to improve their skills in

hearing cases, taking decisions and writing judgments.

98. In the proportion of population- judge ratio, India is today

amongst lowest in the world. The existing strength being inadequate

even to dispose of the fresh institution, the backlog cannot be reduced

without additional strength, particularly, when the institution of cases is

likely to increase in coming years. The judge population at present is

13.5 judges for one million citizens. In contrast there are 130 judges in

the United States of America for one million citizens. In 2002, the

Supreme Court has directed the centre government to raise the judge

population ration to 50 per million in a phased manner, as

recommended by the Law Commission in its 120th Report. The

 Government should seriously think about it otherwise legal system

would collapse at any time.

99. The right to appeal against interim and interlocutory orders

should be curtailed because these are normally ploys to prolong the

cases. Only summary appeals should be allowed. Further the overall

appeal procedures should be made strict.

100. Arrears before every judge should be made public every 6 month

and the Chief Justice should be given power to discipline judges who is

found to be dragging the cases. Judiciary should be made part of the

plan so that there are more Courts and judges.

101. Written brief should be made the norm and oral arguments

should be minimal and time-bound. There is a need for a geographical

decentralization of the judicial structure. Considering the enormous size

of the country and the inconvenience caused to the litigants come from

remote corners of the country -a Supreme Court bench may be

established in East, West, North and South India. To minimize the

judicial error, Division Bench should be constituted at District Level.

102. Fast Track Courts should be treated as different from normal

Courts and should be given very specific matters to handle. Over

burdening would lead them handling an equal amount of litigation. Such

Courts should only be given old pending matters or matters, which are

complicated or disposal of which require a large number of witnesses.

103. There is a need to establish Gram Nayalayas as per the Gram

Nayalays Act, 2008 at the grass roots level for the purposes of providing

assess to justice to the citizens at their doorsteps and to ensure that

opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by

 reason of social, economic or other disabilities and for matters

connected there with or incidental thereto.

104. Establishment of additional Courts at any level involves enormous

expenditure capital as well as recurring. Appointment of whole time

staff- judicial and administrative for new courts involves considerable

recurring expenditure. There is a need to strengthen the morning and

Evening Courts and these courts should start functioning from 7:30 am

to 10:00 am and from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm respectively so that the

functioning of existing courts may not suffers. Existing court buildings,

furniture, library and other infrastructure and equipment could be used

for the second shift, without the need for additional expenditure. Re-

employment of retired judges, judicial officers and administrative staff

would be far less burdensome to the exchequer, as they would be paid

only the difference between the salaries and emoluments payable to

serving judges and officers of the same rank and their pension.

105. Judiciary is always held responsible for mounting arrears of case.

But, it does not control the resources of funds and has no powers to

create additional courts, appoint adequate court staff and augment the

infrastructure required for courts. The NCRWC noted that neither had

any provision for funds for the judiciary been made under five years

plan and nor the Finance Commission made any provision to serve the

financial needs of the Courts. There is a need to give financial autonomy

to judiciary with regard to creation of posts, allocation of project costs

and incurring of expenditure. It may be concluded by quoting Justice

Warren Burger, the former Chief Justice of American Supreme Court:

"The harsh truth is that we may be on our way to a society overrun by

 hordes of lawyers, hungry as locusts and bridges of judges in numbers

never before contemplated. The notion that ordinary people want black

robed judges, well-dressed lawyers, fine paneled Courtrooms to resolve

their disputes, is not correct. People with legal problems want relief and

they want it as quickly and inexpensively as possible."

106. On 31.3.2002, the National Commission to Review the Working of

the Constitution submitted its Report to Central Government. The true

copy is annexed herewith as Annexure P-1. (Pages 53-103)

107. On 30.04.2009, the Law Commission of India submitted it 221st

Report “Need for Speedy Justice - Some Suggestions” to the Government.

The true copy is annexed herewith as Annexure P-2. (Pages 104-128)

108. On 05.08.2009, the Law Commission of India submitted it 230th

Report “Reforms in the Judiciary-Some Suggestions” to the Government.

The true copy is annexed herewith as Annexure P-3. (Pages 129-166)

109. On 25.10.2009, a Resolution was adopted by the Government in

presence of the Justices of the Supreme Court and High Courts to reduce

the pendency of cases from 15 to 3 years. (Appendix, Pages 50-52)

110. On 07.07.2014, the Law Commission submitted it 245th Report

“Arrears and Backlog : Creating Additional Manpower” to Government.

The true copy is annexed herewith as Annexure P-4. (Pages 167-249)

111. The Supreme Court Order dated 20.3.2017 in WP(C) 95/2016 is

annexed herewith as Annexure P-5 (Pages 250-253)

PRAYER

Keeping in view the above stated facts and appalling effects of the long

pendency of cases, it is respectfully prayed that this Hon’ble Court may be

pleased to issue a writ, order or direction, in the nature of mandamus to:

a) direct the Ministry of Law to take appropriate steps to reduce the

pendency of cases from 15 to 3 years in line with the Resolution dated

25.10.2009, namely ‘National Consultation for Strengthening the Judiciary

towards Reducing Pendency and Delays’; (Appendix, Page 50)

b) direct the Ministry of Finance to allocate sufficient funds from National

Resources or Consolidated Fund of India to meet the demands of State

Judiciary in line with the recommendations of the National Commission to

Review the Working of the Constitution; (Annexure P-1, Page 78, Para 131)

c) direct the Ministry of Law to take appropriate steps to implement the

recommendations of the Law Commission’s Report No 221, 230 and 245;

(Annexure P-2,Page-126,Annexure P-3,Page-163, Annexure P-4, Page 224)

d) direct the Secretary General to plan Annual Calendar in a way so that

the Courts function at least 225 days per year and 6 hours per day as

suggested by Law Commission Report No-230; (Annexure P-3,Page 164)

e) take appropriate steps to ensure that an Advocate shall not be

appointed as a Judge in the High Court where he/she has practiced as an

Advocate or where his/her blood relatives are practicing as Advocate;

f) take appropriate steps for setting-up Division Benches at District Level

and pass such other order as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and

proper to reduce the pendency of cases and minimize the probability of

Procedural / Judicial error and allow the cost of petition to petitioner.

7.5.2018 R. D. Upadhyay
New Delhi (Advocate for Petitioner)
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO …… OF 2018
IN THE MATTER OF:
Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay …Petitioner
Verses
Union of India & another ...Respondents
 AFFIDAVIT
I, Ashwini KumarUpadhyay, aged 43 years, son of Sh. Suresh Chandra
Upadhyay, Office at 15, M.C. Setalvad Chambers, Supreme Court, New
Delhi-110001,Resident of G-284, Govindpuram, Ghaziabad, Pin-201013,
at present at New Delhi, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:
1. I am sole petitioner above named and well acquainted with facts and
circumstances of case and as such competent to swear this affidavit.
2. I have read and understood contents of accompanying synopsis and list
of dates pages (B - F) and writ petition paras (1 - 111) pages (1 - 48 ) and
total pages (1 - 253 ) which are true and correct to my knowledge/belief.
3. Annexures filed with petition are true copies of their respective originals.
4. I have not filed any other petition either in this Hon’ble Court or in any
other High Court seeking same/similar directions prayed in this petition.
5. I have no personal interests, individual gain, private motive or oblique
reasons in filing this PIL. It is not guided for gain of any other individual
person, institution or body. There is no motive other than public interest.
6. There is no civil, criminal or revenue litigation, involving petitioner,
which has or could have legal nexus, with the issue involved in this
petition. It is totally bona-fide.
7. There is no requirement to move concerned government authority for
relief sought in this PIL. There is no other remedy available except
approaching this Hon’ble Court.
8. I have gone through the Article 32 and Supreme Court Rules and do
hereby affirm that the present writ petition is in conformity thereof.
9. I have done whatsoever enquiry/investigation, which was in my power to
do, to collect the data/material, which was available; and which was
relevant for this Hon’ble Court to entertain the present writ petition.
10. I have not concealed any data/material/information in this
petition; which may have enabled this Hon’ble Court to form an opinion,
whether to entertain this petition or not and/or whether to grant any
relief or not.
11. The averments made in this affidavit are true and correct to my
personal knowledge and belief. No part of this Affidavit is false or
fabricated, nor has anything material been concealed there from.

(Ashwini KumarUpadhyay)
DEPONENT
VERIFICATION
I, the Deponent do hereby verify that the contents of above affidavit
are true and correct to my personal knowledge and belief. No part of this
affidavit is false nor has anything material been concealed there from.
I solemnly affirm today i.e. 7th day of May 2018 at New Delhi.

(Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay)

DEPONENT

APPENDIX
NATIONAL CONSULTATION FOR STRENGTHENING THE JUDICIARY
TOWARDS REDUCING PENDENCY AND DELAYS
(24-25 OCTOBER 2009)
RESOLUTION DATED 25TH OCTOBER 2009
The Participants,
Reiterating the Constitutional promise to deliver equal justice
under law to all citizens and to provide access to justice to all,
particularly the weaker sections of society
Noting that the President of India in her address to the Joint
session of Parliament delivered on June 3 rd 2009 had emphasized the
need for a roadmap for judicial reforms
Noting that the Prime Minister of India in his address to the
Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices on August 16th 2009
described the huge arrears and case backlogs as the prime source of
concern in relation to the Indian legal system
Recalling the consensus of all those present, including the
Honourable Chief Justice of India, the Honourable Union Minister for
Law and Justice, the Honourable Attorney General of India and the
Learned Solicitor General of India and others that the pendency and
delays in the courts calls for urgent and immediate action
Reaffirming the commitment of those present including the
Justices of the Supreme Court of India and other members of the
Judiciary, Judicial officers, Law officers, Members of the Bar,
representatives of the Union Ministry of Law & Justice and members of
the public to dedicate themselves to reduce the pendency of cases from
15 years to 3 years and to work together to implement the various steps
required to ensure expeditious, quality and inclusive justice
Taking Note of the Vision Document presented by the Honourable
Union Minister of Law and Justice to the Honourable Chief Justice of
India
Adopt the Vision Statement and Action Plan as a public
commitment for redesigning the justice delivery system to reduce
pendency and delays
Urge all constituents to recognise their special role and
responsibility to implement the Action Plan
Decide that to implement the Action Plan the National Arrears
Grid and the Special Purpose vehicle be incorporated no later than 26th
November 2009, Law Day
 Recommend the High Court’s make available all the data for the
National Grid by 30th November 2009
Also decide that the implementation of the Action Plan should
focus on human resource development, infrastructure development and
procedural reforms
Commit to comprehensive human resource development in all
sectors including judges lawyers, law officers, prosecutors and court
staff in an inclusive manner
Further commit to efficient and optimum utilization of existing
infrastructure and improvements and additions to physical and
technological infrastructure
Also commit to specific implementation of procedural reforms at
all levels in a time bound manner including curtailment of
adjournments, introducing a system of continuous hearing in civil cases
and criminal trials and expediting execution proceedings by removing
unnecessary delays
Acknowledge the initiative undertaken by the Government of
India to frame a National Litigation Policy by 31st December 2009 with
a view to ensure conduct of responsible litigation by the Central
Government and urges every State Government to evolve similar
policies
Welcome and Applaud the idea of an SPV as an autonomous and
flexible means to provide infrastructural, managerial, technological and
manpower services to the Judiciary and the singular contribution of Dr.
Sam Pitroda in the conceptualisation of the SPV and the implementation
of its programs
Bearing in mind that all such changes should focus on inclusive
growth reaching all levels of society and acknowledging the need to
create an Indian model
Request the Central Government to make available adequate and
committed resources to implement and support the Action Plan
Recognize the need for mediation and other methods of dispute
resolution as an organized mainstream justice delivery mechanism
Further recognize the principle behind judicial appointments
should be delivery of quality and expeditious justice and public service
 Commend for consideration the establishment of a All India
Judicial Service through an open competitive examination ensuring the
best possible selection
Welcome the suggestion of the Honourable Chief Justice of India
for a notional increase in the sanctioned strength of judges by 25 % in
order to enable the judiciary to make advance selection for appointment
as soon as the vacancy arises
Also recognise the need for appointment of ad hoc judges at all
levels of the judiciary on a temporary basis from amongst retired judges
and members of the bar
Recommend the creation of a National Pool of Judicial Officers
from retired judges to enable persons from the pool to be appointed as
HC judges in various states
Recommend assigning special judges to deal with all pending
criminal cases where the term is less than 3 years
Welcome and Applaud the leadership given the by the Chief
Justice of India, Judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of the
various High Courts and their colleagues, Bar Councils of India and Bar
Associations for their positive role in initiating and furthering a
meaningful dialogue to further the objectives of the vision document

*******************

Annexure P-1
NATIONAL COMMISSION TO REVIEW
THE WORKING OF THE CONSTITUTION

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
 CONTENTS
RECOMMENDATION

Fundamental Rights, Directive

Chapter 3 (1) to (29)
Principles and Fundamental Duties
Electoral Processes and Political
Chapter 4 (30) to (69)
Parties
Chapter 5 Parliament and State Legislatures (70) to (97)

Chapter 6 Executive and Public Administration (98) to (121)

Chapter 7 The Judiciary (122) to (149)

Chapter 8 Union-State Relations (150) to (175)

Chapter 9 Decentralisation and Devolution (176) to (213)

Pace of Socio-Economic Change and
Chapter 10 (214) to (249)
Development

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
[Of the various recommendations, 58 recommendations involve
amendment to the Constitution, 86 involve legislative measures and the
rest involve executive action. Recommendations, which involve
amendments to the Constitution, are given in italics]
CHAPTER 3: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, DIRECTIVE
PRINCIPLES AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
Fundamental Rights
(1) In article 12 of the Constitution, the following Explanation should be
added:- ‘Explanation – In this article, the expression “other authorities”
shall include any person in relation to such of its functions which are of
a public nature.’ [Para 3.5]
(2) In Articles 15 and 16, prohibition against discrimination should be
extended to “ethnic or social origin; political or other opinion; property or
birth”. [Para 3.6]
(3) Article 19(1)(a) and (2) should be amended to read as follows:
“Art. 19(1): All citizens shall have the right - (a) to freedom of
speech and expression which shall include the freedom of the press and
other media, the freedom to hold opinions and to seek, receive and
impart information and ideas.”
19(2): “Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the
operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law,
in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of
the right conferred by the said sub-clause in the interests of the
sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly
relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in
 relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence, or
preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence except
when required in public interest.”. [Para 3.8.1]
(4) A Proviso to article 19(2) of the Constitution should be added as under:
“Provided that, in matters of contempt, it shall be open to the
Court to permit a defence of justification by truth on satisfaction as to
the bona fides of the plea and it being in public interest.” [Paras 3.8.2
and 7.42]
(5) The existing article 21 may be re-numbered as clause (1) thereof, and a
new clause (2) should be inserted thereafter on the following lines: -
“(2) No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment.”. [Para 3.9]
(6) After clause (2) in article 21 as proposed in para 3.9, a new clause,
namely, clause (3) should be added on the following lines:-
“(3) Every person who has been illegally deprived of his right to life
or liberty shall have an enforceable right to compensation.” [Para 3.10]
(7) After article 21, a new article, say article 21-A, should be inserted on the
following lines:-
“21-A. (1) Every person shall have the right to leave the territory of
India and every citizen shall have the right to return to India.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent the State from making any
law imposing reasonable restrictions in the interests of the sovereignty
and integrity of India, friendly relations of India with foreign States and
interests of the general public.” [Para 3.11]
(8) A new article, namely, article 21-B, should be inserted on the following
lines:
“21-B. (1) Every person has a right to respect for his private and
family life, his home and his correspondence.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent the State from making any
law imposing reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right
conferred by clause (1), in the interests of security of the State, public
safety or for the prevention of disorder or crime, or for the protection of
health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of
others.”. [Para 3.12]
(9) A new article, say article 21-C, may be added to make it obligatory on the
State to bring suitable legislation for ensuring the right to rural wage
employment for a minimum of eighty days in a year. [Para 3.13.2]
(10) As regards article 22, the following changes should be made:
(i) The first and second provisos and Explanation to article 22(4)
as contained in section 3 of the Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978
should be substituted by the following proviso and the said section 3 of
 the 1978 Act as amended by the proposed legislation should be brought
into force within a period of not exceeding three months:-
“Provided that an Advisory Board shall consist of a Chairman and
not less than two other members, and the Chairman and the other
members of the Board shall be serving judges of any High Court:
Provided further that nothing in this clause shall authorize the
detention of any person beyond a maximum period of six months as may
be prescribed by any law made by Parliament under sub-clause (a) of
clause (7).”.
ii) In clause (7) of article 22 of the Constitution, in sub-clause (b),
for the words “the maximum period”, the words “the maximum period
not exceeding six months” shall be substituted. [Para 3.14.2]
(11) After article 30, the following article should be added as article 30A:
“30-A: Access to Courts and Tribunals and speedy justice
(1) Everyone has a right to have any dispute that can be resolved
by the application of law decided in a fair public hearing before an
independent court or, where appropriate, another independent and
impartial tribunal or forum.
(2) The right to access to courts shall be deemed to include the
right to reasonably speedy and effective justice in all matters before the
courts, tribunals or other fora and the State shall take all reasonable
steps to achieve the said object.”. [Para 3.15.1]
(12) Article 39A in Part IV should be shifted to Part III as a new article
30-B to read as under:-
“30-B. Equal justice and free legal aid: The State shall secure that
the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal
opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable
legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities
for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic
or other disabilities.”. [Para 3.15.2]
(13) Article 300-A should be recast as follows:-
“300-A. (1) Deprivation or acquisition of property shall be by authority of
law and only for a public purpose.
(2) There shall be no arbitrary deprivation or acquisition of property:
Provided that no deprivation or acquisition of agricultural, forest
and non-urban homestead land belonging to or customarily used by the
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall take place except by
authority of law which provides for suitable rehabilitation scheme before
taking possession of such land.” [Para 3.16.2]
(14) In article 31-B, following proviso should be added at the end:-
“Provided that the protection afforded by this article to Acts and
 Regulations which may be hereafter specified in the Ninth Schedule or
any of the provisions thereof, shall not apply unless such Acts or
Regulations relate –
(a) in pith and substance to agrarian reforms or land reforms;
(b) to reasonable quantum of reservation under articles 15 and 16;
(c) to provisions for giving effect to the policy of the State towards
securing all or any of the principles specified in clause (b) or clause (c) of
article 39.” [Para 3.17]
(15) Clauses (1) and (1A) of article 359 should be amended by
substituting for “(except articles 20 and 21)”, the following:-
“(except articles 17,20,21,23,24,25 and 32)” [Para 3.18.2]
(16) The relevant provision in the Constitution (93rd Amendment) Bill,
2001 making the right to education of children from 6 years till the
completion of 14 years as a Fundamental Right should be amended and
enlarged to read as under:-
“30-C. Every child shall have the right to free education until he
completes the age of fourteen years; and in the case of girls and members
of the Scheduled Castes and the Schedule Tribes until they complete the
age of eighteen years.”. [Para 3.20.2]
(17) After article 24, the following article should be added:-
“Article 24A. Every child shall have the right to care and assistance
in basic needs and protection from all forms of neglect, harm and
exploitation.”. [Para 3.21.2]
(18) After the proposed article 30-C, the following article may be added
as article 30-D:-
“30-D. Right to safe drinking water, prevention of pollution,
conservation of ecology and sustainable development.
Every person shall have the right –
(a) to safe drinking water;
(b) to an environment that is not harmful to one’s health or well-
being; and
(c) to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present
and future generations so as to –
(i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
(ii) promote conservation; and
(iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of
natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social
development.”. [Para 3.22.3]
(19) Explanation II to article 25 should be omitted and sub-clause (b) of
clause (2) of that article should be reworded to read as follows:-
“(b) providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of
 Hindu, Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religious institutions of a public
character to all classes and sections of these religions.”. [Para 3.23.2]
(20) It shall be desirable that some optimum level of population with a
view to take necessary action under this constitutional provision is
prescribed. In article 347 of the Constitution, for the words “a substantial
proportion of the population”, the words “not less than ten per cent of the
population” should be substituted. [Para 3.24]
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES
(21) The Commission recommends that the heading of Part IV of the
Constitution should be amended to read as “DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF
STATE POLICY AND ACTION”. [Para 3.26.3]
(22) A strategic Plan of Action should be initiated to create a large
number of employment opportunities in five years to realize and exploit
the enormous potential in creating such employment opportunities. The
components of this plan may include:
(1) Improvement of productivity in agriculture that will activate a chain
of activities towards increased income and employment opportunities.
(2) Integrated horticulture that will include production of fruits,
vegetables and flowers, cut-flowers for export and medicinal plants as
well as establishment of bio-processing industries aimed primarily at
value-addition of agricultural products.
(3) Intensification of animal husbandry programs and production of
quality dairy products.
(4) Integrated Program of Intensive Aquaculture including use of
common property resources like village ponds and lakes.
(5) Afforestation and Wasteland Development to bring an additional 12
million hectares under forest plantation and contribute to rural asset
building activity.
(6) Soil and Water Conservation to support afforestation and Natural
Resource Conservation towards eco-friendly agriculture.
(7) Water Conservation and Tank Rehabilitation.
(8) Production and use of organic manures through vermiculture and
other improved techniques and production of organic health foods from
them. [Para 3.27.3]
(23) The Commission recommends that an independent National
Education Commission should be set up every five years to report to
Parliament on the progress of the constitutional directive regarding
compulsory education and on other aspects relevant to the knowledge
society of the new century. The model of the Finance Commission may be
usefully looked into. [Para 3.31.3]
(24) After article 47, the following Article should be added, namely:-
47A. “Control of population.- The State shall endeavour to secure
control of population by means of education and implementation of small
family norms.”. [Para 3.32]
(25) An inter-faith mechanism to promote such civil society initiatives
should be set up. This may be done under the auspices of the National
Human Rights Commission set up under section 3 of the Protection of
Human Rights Act, 1993 which, inter alia, provides for the participation
of “the Chairpersons of the National Commission for Minorities, the
National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and
the National Commission for Women” who shall be deemed to be the
Members of the Commission for the discharge of functions specified in
clauses (b) to (j) of the section 12 of the said Act. This body could, in
addition to its other statutory functions, also function in collaboration
with the National Foundation for Communal Harmony as a mechanism
for promotion of inter-religious harmony for inter alia overseeing the
installation and working of “Mohalla Committees” and other civil society,
initiatives in sensitive areas. With an appropriate statutory enablement
by way of enlargement of section 12 of the said Act, the purpose could be
achieved without additional expenditure for setting up a separate
mechanism. Section 12 of the said Act with consequential amendments
to section 3(3) could be amended by the addition of clause (k), which
shall read as under:
“(k) promoting through civil society initiatives, inter-faith
and inter-religious harmony and social solidarity.”.
The Chairpersons of the National Commission for the Backward
Classes and the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis should be
co-opted to this body. [Para 3.34.2]
(26) There must be a body of high status which first reviews the state of
the level of implementation of the Directive Principles and Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights and in particular (i) the right to work, (ii) the
right to health, (iii) the right to food, clothing and shelter, (iv) Right to
Education up to and beyond the 14th year, and (v) the Right to
Culture. The said body must estimate the extent of resources required in
each State under each of these heads and make recommendations for
allocation of adequate resources, from time to time. For ensuring that
the Directive Principles of State Policy are realized more effectively, the
following procedure should be followed:-:-
(i) The Planning Commission should ensure that there is special
mention/emphasis in all the plans and schemes formulated by it, on the
effectuation/realization of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
 (ii) Every Ministry/Department of the Government of India should
make a special annual report indicating the extent of
effectuation/realization of the Directive Principles of State Policy, the
shortfall in the targets, the reasons for the shortfall, if any, and the
remedial measures taken to ensure their full realization, during the year
under report.
(iii) The report under item (ii) should be considered and discussed
by the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee, which
shall submit its report on the working of the Department indicating the
achievements/failures of the Ministry/Department along with its
recommendations thereto.
(iv) Both the Reports mentioned at items (ii) and (iii) above should
be discussed by the Planning Commission in an interactive seminar with
the representatives of various NGOs, Civil Society Groups, etc. in which
the representatives of the Ministry/Department and the Departmental
Related Parliamentary Standing Committee would also participate. The
report of this interaction shall be submitted to the Parliament within a
time bound manner.
(v) The Parliament should discuss the report at item (iv) above
within a period of three months and pass a resolution about the action
required to be taken by the Ministry/Department concerned.
A similar mechanism as mentioned above may be adopted by the
States. [Paras 3.35.2 and 3.35.3]
(27) The Report of the National Statistical Commission (2001) stresses
the importance of availability of adequate, credible and timely socio-
economic data generated by the statistical system, both for policy
formulation and for monitoring progress of the sectors of economy and
pace of socio-economic change. The Commission endorses the
recommendations of the National Statistical Commission and stresses
the importance of their implementation. [Para 3.36]
(28) For effectuating fundamental duties, following steps be taken:-
(i) The first and foremost step required by the Union and State
Governments is to sensitise the people and to create a general awareness
of the provisions of fundamental duties amongst the citizens on the lines
recommended by the Justice Verma Committee on the subject.
Consideration should be given to the ways and means by which
Fundamental Duties could be popularized and made effective;
(ii) Right to freedom of religion and other freedoms must be jealously
guarded and rights of minorities and fellow citizens respected;
(iii) Reform of the whole process of education is an immediate but
immense need, as is the need to free it from governmental or political
 control; it is only through education that will power to adhere to our
Fundamental Duties as citizens can be inculcated;
(iv) Duty to vote at elections, actively participate in the democratic process
of governance and to pay taxes should be included in article 51A; and
(v) The other recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee on
operationalisation of Fundamental Duties of Citizens should be
implemented at the earliest. [Para 3.40.3]
(29) The following should also be incorporated as fundamental duties in
article 51A of the Constitution –
(i) To foster a spirit of family values and responsible parenthood in the
matter of education, physical and moral well-being of children.
(ii) Duty of industrial organizations to provide education to children of
their employees. [Para 3. 40.4]
CHAPTER 4: ELECTORAL PROCESSES & POLITICAL PARTIES
ELECTORAL PROCESSES
(30) While some far-reaching reforms in the electoral processes are
necessary, no major constitutional amendment is required. The
necessary correctives could be achieved by ordinary legislation modifying
the existing laws, or in many cases, merely by rules and executive action.
A foolproof method of preparing the electoral roll right at the Panchayat
level constituency of a voter and supplementing it by a foolproof voter ID
card which may in fact also serve as a multi-purpose citizenship card for
all adults. A single exercise should be enough for preparing common
electoral rolls and ID cards. The task could be entrusted to a qualified
professional agency under the supervision of the Election Commission of
India (EC) and in coordination with the SECs. The rolls should be
updated constantly and periodically posted on the web site of the
Election Commission and CDROMs should be available to all political
parties or anyone interested. Prior to elections, these rolls should be
printed and publicly displayed at the post offices in each constituency, as
well as at the panchayats or relevant constituency headquarters. These
should be allowed to be inspected on payment of a nominal fee by
anyone. Facilities should also be provided to the members of the public
at the post offices for submitting their applications for modification of the
electoral rolls. [Paras 4.7.3 and 4.8.3]
(31) Introduction of Electronic Voting Machines in all constituencies all
over the country for all elections as rapidly as possible. [Para 4.9]
(32) Under section 58A of the RPA, the Election Commission should be
authorised to take a decision regarding booth capturing on the report of
the returning officers, observers or citizen groups. Also, the EC should
be empowered to countermand the election and order a fresh election or
 to declare the earlier poll to be void and order a re-poll in the entire
constituency. Further, the EC should consider the use of tamper-proof
video and other electronic surveillance at sensitive polling stations/
constituencies. [Para 4.10]
(33) Any election campaigning on the basis of caste or religion and any
attempt to spread caste and communal hatred during elections should be
punishable with mandatory imprisonment. If such acts are done at the
instance of the candidate or by his election agents, these would be
punishable with disqualification. [Para 4.11]
(34) The Representation of the People Act should be amended to provide
that any person charged with any offence punishable with imprisonment
for a maximum term of five years or more, should be disqualified for
being chosen as or for being a member of Parliament or Legislature of a
State on the expiry of a period of one year from the date the charges were
framed against him by the court in that offence and unless cleared
during that one year period, he shall continue to remain so disqualified
till the conclusion of the trial for that offence. In case a person is
convicted of any offence by a court of law and sentenced to imprisonment
for six months or more the bar should apply during the period under
which the convicted person is undergoing the sentence and for a further
period of six years after the completion of the period of the sentence. If
any candidate violates this provision, he should be disqualified. Also, if a
party puts up such a candidate with knowledge of his antecedents, it
should be derecognized and deregistered. [Para 4.12.2]
(35) Any person convicted for any heinous crime like murder, rape,
smuggling, dacoity, etc. should be permanently debarred from contesting
for any political office. [Para 4.12.3]
(36) Criminal cases against politicians pending before Courts either for
trial or in appeal must be disposed off speedily, if necessary, by
appointing Special Courts. [Para 4.12.4]
(37) A potential candidate against whom the police have framed charges
may take the matter to the Special Court. This court should be obliged
to enquire into and take a decision in a strictly time bound
manner. Basically, this court may decide whether there is indeed a
prima facie case justifying the framing of charges. [Para 4.12.5]
(38) The Special Courts should be constituted at the level of High
Courts and their decisions should be appealable to the Supreme Court
only (in similar way as the decisions of the National Environment
Tribunal). The Special Courts should decide the cases within a period of
six months. For deciding the cases, these Courts should take evidence
through Commissioners. [Para 4.12.6]
(39) The benefit of sub-section (4) of section 8 of the Representation of
the People Act, 1951 should be available only for the continuance in
office by a sitting Member of Parliament or a State Legislature. The
Commission recommends that the aforesaid provision should be suitably
amended providing that this benefit shall not be available for the purpose
of his contesting fresh elections. [Para 4.12.7]
(40) The proposed provision laying down that a person charged with an
offence punishable with imprisonment for a maximum period of five
years or more should be disqualified from contesting elections after the
expiry of a period of one year from the date the charges were framed in a
court of law should equally be applicable to sitting members of
Parliament and State Legislatures as to any other such person.[4.12.8]
(41) In matters of disqualification on grounds of corrupt practices, the
President should determine the period of disqualification under section
8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 on the direct opinion of
the EC and avoid the delay currently experienced. This can be done by
resorting to the position prevailing before the 1975 amendment to the
said Act. [Para 4.13.1]
(42) The election petitions should also be decided by special courts
proposed in para 4.12.6. In the alternative, special election benches may
be constituted in the High Courts and earmarked exclusively for the
disposal of election petitions and election disputes. [Para 4.13.2]
(43) The existing ceiling on election expenses for the various legislative
bodies be suitably raised to a reasonable level reflecting the increasing
costs. However, this ceiling should be fixed by the Election Commission
from time to time and should include all the expenses by the candidate
as well as by his political party or his friends and his well-wishers and
any other expenses incurred in any political activity on behalf of the
candidate by an individual or a corporate entity. Such a provision
should be the part of a legislation regulating political funding in
India. Further, Explanation 1 to section 77(1) of the Representation of
the People Act, 1951 should be deleted. [Para 4.14.2]
(44) The political parties as well as individual candidates should be
made subject to a proper statutory audit of the amounts they
spend. These accounts should be monitored through a system of
checking and cross-checking through the income-tax returns filed by the
candidates, parties and their well-wishers. At the end of the election
each candidate should submit an audited statement of expenses under
specific heads. [Para 4.14.2]
(45) Every candidate at the time of election must declare his assets and
liabilities along with those of his close relatives. Every holder of a political
 position must declare his assets and liabilities along with those of his
close relations annually. Law should define term 'close relatives'. [4.14.5]
(46) Any system of State funding of elections bears a close nexus to the
regulation of working of political parties by law and to the creation of a
foolproof mechanism under law with a view to implementing the financial
limits strictly. Therefore, proposals for State funding should be deferred
till these regulatory mechanisms are firmly in position. [Para 4.14.5]
(47) All candidates should be required under law to declare their assets
and liabilities by an affidavit and the details so given by them should be
made public. Further, as a follow up action, the particulars of the assets
and liabilities so given should be audited by a special authority created
specifically under law for the purpose. Again, the legislators should be
required under law to submit their returns about their liabilities every
year and a final at the end of their term of office. [4.14.6]
(48) Campaign period should be reduced considerably. [Para 4.15.4]
(49) Candidates shouldn’t be allowed to contest election simultaneously
for the same office from more than one constituency. [Para 4.15.5]
(50) The election code of conduct, which should come into operation as
soon as the elections are announced, should be given the sanctity of law
and its violation should attract penal action. [Para 4.15.6]
(51) The Commission while recognizing the beneficial potential of the
system of run off contest electing the representative winning on the basis
of 50% plus one vote polled, as against the first-past-the-post system, for
a more representative democracy, recommends that the Government and
the Election Commission of India should examine this issue of
prescribing a minimum of 50% plus one vote for election in all its
aspects, consult various political parties, and other interests that might
consider themselves affected by this change and evaluate the
acceptability and benefits of this system. The Commission recommends
a careful and full examination of this issue by the Government and the
Election Commission of India. [Para 4.16.6]
(52) Intra-State delimitation exercise may be undertaken by the
Election Commission for Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies and
the Scheduled Castes and Non-Scheduled Area Scheduled Tribe seats
should be rotated. The Delimitation Body should, however, reflect the
plural composition of society. [Para 4.17]
(53) The provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution should be
amended specifically to provide that all persons defecting - whether
individually or in groups - from the party or the alliance of parties, on
whose ticket they had been elected, must resign from their parliamentary
or assembly seats and must contest fresh elections. In other words, they
 should lose their membership and the protection under the provision of
split, etc. should be scrapped. The defectors should also be debarred to
hold any public office of a minister or any other remunerative political
post for at least the duration of the remaining term of the existing
legislature or until, the next fresh elections whichever is earlier. The vote
cast by a defector to topple a government should be treated as
invalid. Further, the power to decide questions as to disqualification on
ground of defection should vest in the Election Commission instead of in
the Chairman or Speaker of the House concerned. [Para 4.18.2]
(54) The practice of having oversized Council of Ministers should be
prohibited by law. A ceiling on the number of Ministers in any State or
the Union government be fixed at the maximum of 10% of the total
strength of the popular house of the legislature. [Para 4.19]
(55) The practice of creating a number of political offices with the
position, perks and privileges of a minister should be discouraged and at
all events, their number should be limited to two per cent of the total
strength of the lower house. [Para 4.19]
(56) Independent candidates should be discouraged and only those who
have a track record of having won any local election or who are
nominated by at least twenty elected members of Panchayats,
Municipalities or other local bodies spread out in majority of electoral
districts in their constituency should be allowed to contest for Assembly
or Parliament. [Para 4.20.3]
(57) In order to check the proliferation of the number of independent
candidates and the malpractices that enter into the election process
because of the influx of the independent candidates, the existing security
deposits in respect of independent candidates may be doubled. Further,
it should be doubled progressively every year for those independents who
fail to win and still keep contesting elections. If any independent
candidate has failed to get at least five percent of the total number of
votes cast in his constituency, he/she should not be allowed to contest
as independent candidate for the same office again at least for 6 years.
[Para 4.20.4]
(58) An independent candidate who loses election three times
consecutively for the same office as such candidate should be
permanently debarred from contesting election to that office.[Para 4.20.5]
(59) The minimum number of valid votes polled should be increased to
25% from the current 16.67% as a condition for the deposit not being
forfeited. This would further reduce the number of non-serious
candidates. [Para 4.20.6]
(60) It should be possible without any constitutional amendment to
provide for the election of the Leader of the House (Lok Sabha/State
Assembly) along with the election of the Speaker and in like manner
under the Rules of Procedure. The person so elected may be appointed
the Prime Minister/Chief Minister. [Para 4.20.7]
(61) The issue of eligibility of non-Indian born citizens or those whose
parents or grandparents were citizens of India to hold high offices in the
realm such as President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Chief
Justice of India should be examined in depth through a political process
after a national dialogue. [Para 4.21]
(62) The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
should be appointed on the recommendation of a body consisting of the
Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the
Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Deputy
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Similar procedure should be adopted in the
case of appointment of State Election Commissioners. [4.22]
(63) All candidates should be required to clear government dues before
their candidature are accepted. This pertains to payment of taxes and
bills and unauthorised occupation of accommodation and availing of
telephones and other government facilities to which they are no longer
entitled. The fact that matters regarding Government dues in respect of
the candidate are pending before a Court of Law should be no excuse.
[Para 4.23]
(64) In order to obviate the uncertainty in identifying certain offices as
offices of profit or not, suitable amendments should be made in the
Constitution empowering the Election Commission of India to identify and
declare the various offices under the Government of India or of a State to
be ‘offices of profit’ for the purposes of being chosen, and for being, a
member of the appropriate legislature. [Para 4.24.3]
POLITICAL PARTIES
(65) A comprehensive law regulating the registration and functioning of
political parties or alliances of parties in India [may be named as the
Political Parties (Registration and Regulation) Act] should be made. The
proposed law should -
(a) provide that political party or alliance should, in its Memoranda
of Association, Rules and Regulations provide for its doors being open to
all citizens irrespective of any distinctions of caste, community or the
like. It should swear allegiance to the provisions of the Constitution and
to the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, regular elections at an
interval of three years at its various levels of the party, reservation/
representation of at least 30 per cent, of its organizational positions at
 various levels and the same percentage of party tickets for parliamentary
and State legislature seats to women. Failure to do so should invite the
penalty of the party losing recognition.
(b) make it compulsory for the parties to maintain accounts of the
receipt of funds and expenditure in a systematic and regular way. The
form of accounts of receipt and expenditure and declaration about the
sources of funds may be prescribed by an independent body of Accounts
& Audit experts, created under the proposed Act. The accounts should
also be compulsorily audited by the same independent body, created
under the legislation which should also prepare a report on the financial
status of the political party which along with the audited accounts
should be open and available to public for study and inspection.
(c) make it compulsory for the political parties requiring their
candidates to declare their assets and liabilities at the time of filing their
nomination before the returning officers for election to any office at any
level of government.
(d) provide that no political party should sponsor or provide ticket
to a candidate for contesting elections if he was convicted by any court
for any criminal offence or if the courts have framed criminal charges
against him.
(e) specifically provide that if any party violates the provision
mentioned at sub-para (d) above, the candidate involved should be liable
to be disqualified and the party deregistered and derecognised forthwith.
[Paras 4.30.1, 4.30.3, 4.30.4, 4.30.5 and 4.34]
(66) Election Commission should progressively increase the threshold
criterion for eligibility for recognition so that the proliferation of smaller
political parties is discouraged. Only parties or a pre-poll alliance of
political parties registered as national parties or alliances with the
Election Commission be allotted a common symbol to contest elections
for the Lok Sabha. State parties may be allotted symbols to contest
elections for State legislatures and the Council of States. [Para 4.31.2]
(67) In a situation where no single political party or pre-poll alliance of
parties succeeds in securing a clear majority in the Lok Sabha after
elections, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha
may provide for the election of the Leader of the House by the Lok Sabha
along with the election of the Speaker and in the like manner. The Leader
may then be appointed as the Prime Minister. The same procedure may
be followed for the office of the Chief Minister in the State. [Para 4.33.2]
(68) An amendment in the Rules of Procedure of the Legislatures for
adoption of a system of constructive vote of no confidence should be
made. For a motion of no-confidence to be brought out against a
 government at least 20% of the total number of members of the House
should give notice. Also, the motion should be accompanied by a
proposal of alternative Leader to be voted simultaneously. [Para 4.33.3]
(69) A comprehensive legislation providing for regulation of
contributions to the political parties and towards election expenses
should be enacted by consolidating such laws. This new law should-
(a) aim at bringing transparency into political funding; (b) permit
corporate donations within higher prescribed limits and keep them
transparent; (c) make all legal and transparent donations up to a
specified limit tax exempt and treat this tax loss to the state as its
contribution to state funding of elections; (d) contain provisions for
making both donors and donees of political funds accountable. The
Government should encourage the corporate bodies and agencies to
establish an electoral trust which should be able to finance political
parties on an equitable basis at the time of elections; (e) provide that
audited political party accounts like the accounts of a public limited
company should be published yearly with full disclosures under
predetermined account heads; and (f) provide for immediate de-
recognition of the party and enforcement of penalties for filing false or
incorrect election returns. [Paras 4.35.2, 4.35.3, 4.35.4 and 4.36]
CHAPTER 5: PARLIAMENT AND STATE LEGISLATURES
(70) The presiding officers, the minister for parliamentary affairs, and
the chief whips of parties should periodically meet to review the work of
the departmental parliamentary committees and take remedial action. It
should be entirely possible for the Parliament to sanction budgets to
secure the services of specialist advisors to assist these committees in
conducting their inquiries, holding public hearings, collecting data about
legislation and administrative details pertaining to countries which have
relevance to the Indian conditions. [Para 5.6.3]
(71) Immediate steps be taken to set up a Nodal Standing Committee
on National Economy with adequate resources in terms of both in house
and advisory expertise, data gathering and computing and research
facilities for an ongoing analysis of the national economy for assisting the
members of the Committee to report on periodic basis to House. [5.7]
(72) The Parliament should be associated with the initial stage itself in
the matter of formulating proposals for constitutional amendment. The
actual drafting should be taken up only after the principles underlying
the amendment have been thoroughly considered in a parliamentary
forum and subjected to a priori scrutiny by the constituent power. A
Standing Committee of the two Houses of Parliament for a priori scrutiny
of amendment proposals should be set up. [Para 5.8.2 and 5.8.3]
(73) With the proposed establishment of three new Committees,
namely, the Constitution Committee, the Committee on National
Economy and the Committee on Legislation, the existing Committees on
Estimates, Public Undertakings and Subordinate Legislation may not be
continued. [Para 5.9.1]
(74) The Petitions Committee of Parliament has tremendous potential
as a supplement to the proposed Lok Pal institution. It should be made
more widely known and used for ventilation, investigation and redressal
of people's grievances against the administration. [Para 5.9.2]
(75) Major reports of all Parliamentary Committees ought to be
discussed by the Houses of Parliament especially where there is
disagreement between a Parliamentary Committee and the Government.
[Para 5.9.3]
(76) For a more systematic approach to the planning of legislation, the
following steps should be taken:-
(a) Adequate time for consideration of Bills in committees and on
the floor of the Houses as also to subject the drafts to thorough and
rigorous examination by experts and laymen alike should be
provided. (b) All major social and economic legislation should be
circulated for public discussion by professional bodies, business
organizations, trade unions, academics and other interested persons.
(c) The functions of the Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Committee of the
Cabinet should be streamlined; (d) More focused use of the Law
Commission should be made; (e) A new Legislation Committee of
Parliament to oversee and coordinate legislative planning should be
constituted; and (f) All Bills should be referred to the Departmental
Related Parliamentary Standing Committees for consideration and
scrutiny after public opinion has been elicited and all comments,
suggestions and memoranda are in. The Committees may schedule
public hearings, if necessary, and finalise with the help of experts the
second reading stage in the relaxed Committee atmosphere. The time of
the House will be saved thereby without impinging on any of its rights.
The quality of drafting and the content of legislation will necessarily be
improved as a result of following these steps. [Paras 5.10.1 and 5.10.2]
(77) The Parliament may consider enacting suitable legislation to
control and regulate the treaty-power of the Union Government whenever
appropriate and necessary after consulting the State Governments and
Legislatures under article 253 “for giving effect to international
agreements”. [Para 5.10.3]
(78) Parliamentarians have to be like Caesar's wife, above
suspicion. They must voluntarily place themselves open to public
 scrutiny through a parliamentary ombudsman. Supplemented by a code
of ethics, which has been under discussion for a long time, it would place
Parliament on the high pedestal of people's affection and regard. [5.11.1]
(79) Mass media should be encouraged to accurately reflect the reality
of Parliament’s working and the functioning of Parliamentarians in the
Houses. Televising all important debates nationwide in addition to the
Question Hours, publication of monographs, handouts, radio, TV, press
interviews, use of audio-visual techniques, especially to arouse curiosity
and interest of the younger generation, and regular briefing of the press
will go a long way in making people better acquainted with the important
national work that is being done inside the parliament building. [5.11.2]
(80) It is a legitimate public expectation that membership of
Legislatures should not be converted into an office of lucrative gain but
remain an office of service. The question of salaries, allowances, perks
and pensions of lawmakers should be looked into on a rational basis and
healthy conventions built.[Para 5.11.3]
(81) The Parliament and the State Legislatures should assemble and
transact business for not less than a minimum number of days. The
Houses of State Legislatures with less than 70 members should meet for
at least 50 days in a year and other Houses for at least 90 days while the
minimum number of days for sittings of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha
should be fixed at 100 and 120 days respectively.[Para 5.11.4]
(82) In order to maintain basic federal character of the Rajya Sabha,
domiciliary requirement for eligibility to contest elections to Rajya Sabha
from the concerned State is essential. This should be maintained.[5.11.5]
(83) Better and more institutionalized arrangements are necessary to
provide the much-needed professional orientation to newly elected
members. The emphasis should be on imparting practical knowledge on
how to be an effective member. [Para 5.12]
(84) The findings and recommendations of the Public Accounts
Committees (PACs) should be accorded greater weight. A convention
should be developed with the cooperation of all major parties represented
in the legislature to treat the PACs as the conscience-keepers of the
nation in financial matters. [Para 5.13]
(85) Union Government should take necessary steps for the early
enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility Bill pending before Parliament.
The State Assemblies should enact similar legislation as provided for in
article 293 to put their respective fiscal houses in order. [Para 5.14]
(86) The privileges of legislators should be defined and delimited for the
free and independent functioning of Parliament and State
Legislatures. It should not be necessary to run to the 1950 position in
 the House of Commons every time a question arises as to what kind of
legal protection or immunity a Member has in relation to his or her work
in the House. [Para 5.15.3]
(87) Article 105(2) may be amended to clarify that the immunity enjoyed
by Members of Parliament under parliamentary privileges does not cover
corrupt acts committed by them in connection with their duties in the
House or otherwise. Corrupt acts would include accepting money or any
other valuable consideration to speak and/or vote in a particular
manner. For such acts, they would be liable for action under the
ordinary law of the land. It may be further provided that no court will
take cognisance of any offence arising out of a Member's action in the
House without prior sanction of the Speaker or the Chairman, as the
case may be. Article 194(2) may also be similarly amended in relation to
the Members of State Legislatures.[Para 5.15.6]
(88) An Audit Board should be constituted for better discharge of vital
function of public audit, but the number of members to be appointed,
the manner of their appointment and removal and other related matters
should be dealt with by appropriate legislation, keeping in view the need
for ensuring independent functioning of the Board. [5.16.2]
(89) Though no specific change is needed in the existing provisions of
the Constitution insofar as appointment of the Comptroller and Audit
General of India and other related matters are concerned, yet a healthy
convention be developed to consult the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, before
the Government decides on the appointment of the CAG so that the views
of the Public Accounts Committee are also taken into account. [5.16.3]
(90) The considerations that apply at the Union level in regard to the
functioning of the office of C&AG should apply with equal force at the
State level. The State Accountants General (AGs) should be given greater
authority by the C&AG, while maintaining its general superintendence,
direction and control to bring about a broad uniformity of approach in
the sphere of financial discipline. The C&AG should evolve accounting
policies and standards and norms for all bodies and entities that receive
public funds, such as autonomous bodies and the Panchayat Raj
institutions. [Para 5.16.4]
(91) The operations of the office of the C&AG itself should be subject to
scrutiny by an independent body. To fulfill the canons of accountability,
a system of external audit of C&AG's organization should be adopted for
both the Union and the State level organizations. [Para 5.17]
(92) The MP LAD Scheme, as being inconsistent with the spirit of the
Constitution in many ways, should be discontinued immediately. [5.19.2]
(93) Legislation envisaged in article 98(2) should be undertaken to
reorganize the Secretariats as independent and impartial instruments of
Parliament, with special emphasis on upgrading professional
competence. [Para 5.20.1]
(94) It would be useful to reform the budgetary procedure for
streamlining the work of Parliament. [Para 5.21.2]
(95) The number of days on which voting is considered essential should
be reduced to the barest minimum and the time for such voting in a
given session be fixed in advance with appropriate whips requiring full
attendance of members. [Para 5.21.3]
(96) In order to ensure better scrutiny of administration and
accountability to Parliament, parliamentary time in the two houses may
be suitably divided between the government and the opposition.[5.21.4]
(97) The best way to deal with issues of procedural reforms in a
professional (and not political) manner is to have them studied by a
Study Group outside Parliament as was done in U.K. The conclusions
and suggestions of the Group can be considered by the Rules
Committees of the houses of Parliament. Accordingly, a Study Group
outside Parliament for study of Parliament should be set up.[Para 5.21.5]
CHAPTER 6: EXECUTIVE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
(98) While improving the nature and institutional response of
administration to the challenges of democracy is imperative, the system
can deliver the goods only through devolution, decentralization and
democratization thereby narrowing the gap between the base of the polity
and the super structure. [Para 6.2.8]
(99) District should be considered as a basic unit of planning for
development. Functions, finances, and functionaries relating to the
development programmes would have to be placed under the direct
supervision and command of elected bodies at the district levels of
operation to give content and substance to such programmes of
development and public welfare. This would, to a substantial degree,
correct the existing distortions and make officials directly answerable to
the people to ensure proper implementation of development programmes
under the direct scrutiny of people. [Para 6.4.1]
(100) India should move to a system where the State guarantees the title
to land after carrying out extensive land surveys and computerizing the
land records. It will take some time but the results would be beneficial
for investment in land. This will be a major step forward in revitalizing
land administration in the country as it would enable Right to access,
Right to use and Right to enforce decisions regarding land. Similar
rationalization of records relating to individuals rights in properties other
 than privately held lands (which are held in common) would improve
operational efficiency which left unattended foment unrest. A coherent
public policy addressed to the modern methods of management would
contribute to better use of assets and raise dynamic forces of individual
creativity. Run away expansion in bureaucratic apparatus of the State
would also get curtailed by new management system. [Para 6.4.2]
(101) Energetic efforts should be made to establish a pattern of
cooperative relationship between the State and associations, NGOs and
other voluntary bodies to launch a concerted effort to regenerate the
springs of progressive social change. State and civil society are not to be
treated antithical but complementary. [Para 6.5.4]
(102) The questions of personnel policy including placements,
promotions, transfers and fast-track advancements on the basis of
forward-looking career management policies and techniques should be
managed by autonomous Personnel Boards for assisting the high level
political authorities in making key decisions. Such Civil Service Boards
should be constituted under statutory provisions. They should be
expected to function like the UPSC. The sanctity of parliamentary
legislation under article 309 is needed to counteract the publicly known
trends of the play of unhealthy and destabilizing influences in the
management of public services in general and higher civil services in
particular. [Para 6.7.1]
(103) Above a certain level--say the Joint Secretary level - all posts
should be open for recruitment from a wide variety of sources including
the open market. Government should specialize some of the generalists
and generalize some of the specialists through proper career
management which has to be freed from day to day political
manipulation and influence peddling. [Para 6.7.2]
(104) Social audit of official working should be done for developing
accountability and answerability. Officials, before starting their career,
in addition to the taking of an oath of loyalty to the Constitution, should
swear to abide by the basic principles of good governance. This would
give renewed sense of commitment by the executives to the basic tenets
of the Constitution. [Para 6.7.3]
(105) The services have remained largely immune from imposition of
penalties due to the complicated procedures that have grown out of the
constitutional guarantee against arbitrary and vindictive action (article
311). The constitutional safeguards have in practice acted to shield the
guilty against swift and certain punishment for abuse of public office for
private gain. A major corollary has been erosion of accountability. It has
accordingly become necessary to re-visit the issue of constitutional
 safeguards under article 311 to ensure that the honest and efficient
officials are given the requisite protection but the dishonest are not
allowed to prosper in office. A comprehensive examination of the entire
corpus of administrative jurisprudence has to be undertaken to
rationalize and simplify the procedure of administrative and legal action
and to bring the theory and practice of security of tenure in line with the
experience of the last more than 50 years. [Para 6.7.4]
(106) The civil service regulations need to be changed radically in the
light of contemporary administrative theory to introduce modern
evaluation methodology. [Para 6.7.5]
(107) The administrative structure and systems have to be consciously
redesigned to give appropriate recognition to the professional and
technical services so that they may play their due role in modernizing
our economy and society. The specialist should not be required to play
second fiddle to the generalist at the top. Conceptually we need to
develop a collegiate style of administrative management where the leader
is an energizer and a facilitator, and not an oracle delivering verdicts
from a high pedestal. [Para 6.7.6]
(108) A parliamentary legislation under article 312(1) should be enacted.
It should be debated in professional circles as well as by public. [6.7.7]
(109) Right to information should be guaranteed and needs to be given
real substance. In this regard, government must assume a major
responsibility and mobilize skills to ensure flow of information to
citizens. The traditional insistence on secrecy should be discarded. In
fact, we should have an oath of transparency in place of an oath of
secrecy. Administration should become transparent and
participatory. Right to information can usher in many benefits, such as
speedy disposal of cases, minimizing manipulative and dilatory tactics of
the babudom, and, last but most importantly, putting a considerable
check on graft and corruption. [Para 6.10]
(110) The Union Government should take steps to move the Parliament
for early enactment of the Freedom of Information Legislation. It will be a
major step forward in strengthening the values of a free and democratic
society. [Para 6.11]
(111) To remain actively involved in new development programmes the
people would also need the support of well organized, well prepared,
knowledge-oriented personnel and well thought out policies. Think
tanks and organized intellectual groups would have to be promoted
through state funding, etc. without abridging their autonomy.[Para 6.12]
(112) The structural problems of foreign policy would be to constantly
aim at making the best possible use of the international order and use it
 to our advantage. In the country’s governance, the duality of foreign and
domestic policy should end. The two should not be antithetical. A
serious effort is required to combine the two to recast relations and
launch a creative initiative to achieve strategic partnerships the world
over on the principles of inter-dependence without domestic interests
being relegated to the background. This calls for a thorough change in
the form, working and structuring of Foreign Affairs mechanisms
including the External Affairs Ministry. Foreign policy implementation
calls for cutting through the mind-set of a generation. [Para 6.14]
(113) One of the measures adopted in several western countries to fight
corruption and mal-administration is enactment of Public Interest
Disclosure Acts which are popularly called the Whistle-blower
Acts. Similar law may be enacted in India also. The Act must ensure
that the informants are protected against retribution and any form of
discrimination for reporting what they perceived to be wrong-doing, i.e.,
for bona fide disclosures which may ultimately turn out to be not entirely
or substantially true. [Para 6.16.3]
(114) The Government should examine the proposal for enacting a
comprehensive law to provide that where public servants cause loss to
the State by their mala fide actions or omissions, they would be made
liable to make good the loss caused and, in addition, would be liable for
damages. [Para 6.17]
(115) The Union Government should frame rules, without further loss of
time, under Section 8 of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988
for acquiring benami property. Further, a law should be enacted to
provide for forfeiture of benami property of corrupt public servants as
well as non-public servants. [Para 6.19]
(116) The Government should examine enacting a law for confiscation of
illegally acquired assets on the lines suggested by the Supreme Court
in Delhi Development Authority vs. Skipper Construction Co. (P) Ltd. (AIR
1996 SC 2005). There is no need to set up an additional independent
Authority to determine this issue of confiscation. The Tribunal
constituted under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators
(Forfeiture of Property) Act, (SAFEMA) 1976, which could deal with
similar situation arising out of other statutes may be conferred additional
jurisdiction to determine cases of confiscation arising out of the Benami
Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 and the Prevention of Corruption
Act, 1988, (as may be amended) and other legislations which empower
confiscation of illegally acquired assets. Tribunal will exercise distinct
and separate jurisdictions under separate statutes. [Para 6.20.2]
(117) The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 should be amended to
provide for confiscation of the property of a public servant who is found
to be in possession of property disproportionate to his/her known
sources of income and is convicted for the said offence. In this case, the
law should shift the burden of proof to the public servant who was
convicted. In other words, the presumption should be that the
disproportionate assets found in possession of the convicted public
servant were acquired by him by corrupt or illegal means. A proof of
preponderance of probability shall be sufficient for confiscation of the
property. The law should lay down that the standard of proof in
determining whether a person has been benefited from an offence and for
determining the amount in which a confiscation order is to be made, is
that which is applicable to civil cases, i.e. a mere preponderance of
probability only. A useful analogy may be seen in Section 2(8) of the
Drug Trafficking Act 1994 in United Kingdom. [Para 6.20.3]
(118) The Constitution should provide for appointment of LokPal. The
Prime Minister should be kept out of purview of the Lok Pal. [Para 6.21.1]
(119) Union Government should take steps for early enactment of the
Central Vigilance Commission Bill, introduced in Parliament. [6.22]
(120) The Constitution should contain a provision obliging the States to
establish the institution of Lokayuktas in their respective jurisdictions in
accordance with the legislation of the appropriate legislatures. [6.23.2]
(121) When once a Commission of Inquiry is constituted under the
Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 or otherwise, the Government should
consult the Chairperson of the Commission in respect of time required
for completion / finalisation of the report. Once such a time is specified,
the Commission should adhere to it. The Action Taken Report on the
report should be announced by the Government within a period of three
months from the date of submission of the report. [Para 6.24.2]
CHAPTER 7: THE JUDICIARY
(122) In the matter of appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court, it
would be worthwhile to have a participatory mode with the participation
of both the executive and the judiciary in making recommendations. The
composition of the Collegium gives due importance to and provides for
the effective participation of both the executive and the judicial wings of
the State as an integrated scheme for the machinery for appointment of
judges. A National Judicial Commission under the Constitution should be
established. The National Judicial Commission for appointment of judges
of the Supreme Court shall comprise of: (1) The Chief Justice of
India: Chairman (2) Two senior most judges of the Supreme
Court: Member (3) The Union Minister for Law & Justice : Member
 (4) One eminent person nominated by the President after consulting the
Chief Justice of India: Member
The establishment of a National Judicial Commission and its
composition are to be treated as integral in view of the need to preserve
the independence of the judiciary. [Para 7.3.7]
(123) A committee comprising the Chief Justice of India and two senior-
most Judges of the Supreme Court will comprise the committee of the
National Judicial Commission exclusively empowered to examine
complaints of deviant behaviour of all kinds and complaints of
misbehaviour and incapacity against judges of The Supreme Court and
the High Courts. If the committee finds that the matter is serious enough
to call for a fuller investigation or inquiry, it shall refer the matter for a
full inquiry to the committee [constituted under the Judges’ (Inquiry) Act,
1968]. The committee under the Judges Inquiry Act shall be a
permanent committee with a fixed tenure with composition indicated in
the said Act and not one constituted ad-hoc for a particular case or from
case to case, as is the present position under section 3(2) of the Act. The
tenure of the inquiry committee shall be for a period of four years and to
be re-constituted every four years. The inquiry committee shall be
constituted by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of
India. The inquiry committee shall inquire into and report on the
allegation against the Judge in accordance with the procedure prescribed
by the said Act, i.e. in accordance with the sub-sections (3) to (8) of
Section 3 and sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the said Act and submit
their report to the Chief Justice of India, who shall place before a
committee of seven senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. The
Committee of seven Judges shall take a decision as to - whether (a)
findings of the inquiry committee are proper and (b) any charge or
charges are established against the judge and if so, whether the charges
held proved are so serious as to call for his removal (i.e. proved
misbehaviour) or whether it should be sufficient to administer a warning
to him and/or make other directions with respect to allotment of work to
him by the concerned Chief Justice or to transfer him to some other
court (i.e. deviant behaviour not amounting to misbehaviour). If the
decision of the said committee of judges recommends the removal of the
Judge, it shall be a convention that the judge promptly demits office
himself. If he fails to do so, the matter will be processed for being placed
before Parliament in accordance with articles 124(4) and 217(1) Proviso
(b). This procedure shall equally apply in case of Judges of the Supreme
Court and the High Courts except that in the case of a Supreme Court
Judge the judge against whom complaint is received or inquiry is
 ordered, shall not participate in any proceeding affecting him.
In appropriate cases the Chief Justice of the High Court or the
Chief Justice of India, may withhold judicial work from the judge
concerned after the inquiry committee records a finding against the
judge. [Para 7.3.8]
(124) Article 124(3) of the Constitution contemplates appointment of
Judges of Supreme Court from three sources. However, in the last fifty
years not a single distinguished jurist has been appointed. From the Bar
also, less than half a dozen Judges have been appointed. It is time that
suitably meritorious persons from these sources are appointed. [7.3.9]
(125) The retirement age of the Judges of the High Court should be
increased to 65 years and that of the Judges of the Supreme Court
should be increased to 68 years. [Para 7.3.10]
(126) In the matter of transfer of Judges, it should be as a matter of
policy and the power under article 222 and its exercise in appropriate
cases should remain untouched. The President would transfer a Judge
from one High Court to any other High Court after consultation with a
committee comprising the Chief Justice of India and the two senior-most
Judges of the Supreme Court. [Para 7.3.11]
(127) A proviso should be inserted in article 129 so as to provide that the
power of court to punish for contempt of itself inherent only in the Supreme
Court and High Courts and is available as part of privilege of Parliament
and State Legislatures, and no other court, tribunal or authority should
have or be conferred with a power to punish for contempt of itself. [7.4.7]
(128) A suitable provision may be inserted in the Constitution so as to
provide that except the Supreme Court and the High Courts no other court,
tribunal or authority shall exercise any jurisdiction to adjudicate on the
validity or declare an Act of Parliament or State Legislature as being
unconstitutional or beyond legislative competence and so ultra vires. Such
a provision may be made as clause (5) of article 226. [Para 7.5]
(129) A ‘Judicial Council’ at the apex level and Judicial Councils at each
State at the level of the High Court should be set up. There should be an
Administrative Office to assist the National Judicial Council and separate
Administrative Offices attached to Judicial Councils in States. These
bodies must be created under a statute made by Parliament. The
Judicial Councils should be in charge of the preparation of plans, both
short term and long term, and for preparing the proposals for annual
budget. [Para 7.7]
(130) The budget proposals in each State must emanate from the State
Judicial Council, in regard to the needs of the subordinate judiciary in
that State, and will have to be submitted to the State Executive. Once the
 budget is so finalized between the State Judicial Council and the State
Executive, it should be presented in the State Legislature. [Para 7.8.1]
(131) The entire burden of establishing subordinate courts and
maintaining subordinate judiciary should not be on the State
Governments. There is a concurrent obligation on the Union Government
to meet the expenditure for subordinate courts. Therefore, the Planning
Commission and the Finance Commission must allocate sufficient funds
from national resources to meet the demands of the State judiciary in
each of the States. [Para 7.8.2]
(132) The presiding officers in courts should be adequately trained. To
ensure competence, there should be a proper selection, freedom of
action, training, motivation and experience. To maintain competence it is
necessary to have continuing education for the judges. Some national
judicial institutions have to be properly structured to give such
training. There should be a proper monitoring of moving the judges
where work demands such movement from places where there are no
arrears of work. There has to be systematic assessment of training
needs of judicial personnel at different levels. [7.10.2]
(133) The Government should ensure basic infra-structure needed to all
courts and arrange to ensure that courts are not handicapped for want of
infra-structural facilities. Governments, both at the Centre and in the
States, should constitute committee of secretaries to review government
litigation with a view to avoid adjudication, wherever possible, give
priority in filling of written statements, wherever required, and instruct
government advocates to seek early decision on government litigation.
[Para 7.10.4]
(134) In the Supreme Court and the High Courts, judgements should
ordinarily be delivered not later than ninety days from the conclusion of
the case. If a judgement is not rendered within such time – it is possible
that the complexities of the case and the effect the decision may have on
another similar situation might compel greater and larger judicial
consideration and contemplation – the case must be listed before the
court immediately on the expiry of ninety days for the court to fix a
specific date for the pronouncement of the judgment. [Para 7.10.5]
(135) An award of exemplary costs should be given in appropriate cases
of abuse of process of law. [Para 7.11]
(136) The recommendations of the Law Commission of India in regard to
the Nagar Nyayalayas, Conciliation Courts, ADR systems of urban
litigation, evidence recording by Commissioners, etc. as incorporated in
the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2000 should be brought
 into force with such modifications as would take care of a few serious
objections. [Para 7.13.3]
(137) The provisions relating to conciliation in the Arbitration and
Conciliation Act, 1996 should suitably be amended to provide for
obligatory recourse to conciliation or mediation in relation to cases
pending in courts. Further, the scope and functions of the Legal Services
Authorities constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
should be enlarged and extended to enable the Authorities to set up
conciliation and mediation fora and to conduct, in collaboration of other
institutions wherever necessary, training courses for conciliators and
mediators. [Para 7.13.4]
(138) Each High Court should, in consultation with the judicial councils
referred to in para 7.7, prepare a strategic plan for time-bound clearance
of arrears in courts under its jurisdiction. The plan may prescribe
annual targets and district-wise performance targets. High Courts
should establish monitoring mechanisms for progress evaluation. The
purpose is to achieve the position that no court within the High Court’s
jurisdiction has any case pending for more than one year. This should
be achieved within a period of five years or earlier. [Para 7.13.5]
(139) The criminal investigation system needs higher standards of
professionalised action and it should be provided adequate logistic and
technological support. Serious offences should be classified for purpose
of specialized investigation by specially selected, trained and experienced
investigators. They should not be burdened with other duties like
security, maintenance of law and order etc., and should be entrusted
exclusively with investigation of serious offences. [Para 7.14.2]
(140) Number of Forensic Science Institutions with modern technologies
such as DNA fingerprinting technology should be enhanced. [Para 7.14.3]
(141) The system of plea-bargaining (as recommended by the Law
Commission of India in its Report) should be introduced as part of the
process of decriminalization. [Para 7.14.4]
(142) In order that citizen’s confidence in the police administration is
enhanced, the police administration in the districts should periodically
review the statistics of all the arrests made by the police in the district as
to how many of the cases in which arrests were made culminated in the
filing of charge-sheets in the court and how many of the arrests
ultimately turned out to be unnecessary. This review will check the
tendency of unnecessary arrests. [Para 7.14.5]
(143) The legal services authorities in the States should set up
committees with the participation of civil society for bringing the accused
and victims together to work out compounding of offences. [Para 7.14.6]
(144) Statements of witnesses during investigation of serious cases
should be recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973. [Para 7.14.7]
(145) The case for a viable, social justice-oriented and effective scheme
for compensation victims is now widely felt. The Government at the
Union level and in the States are well advised under the directive
principles as well as under International Human Rights obligations to
legislate on the subject of an effective scheme of compensation for
victims of crime without further delay. [Para 7.15.3]
(146) The tremendous support which the criminal justice might derive
from the people once the compensation scheme is introduced even in a
modest scale, and the possibilities of advancing the crying need for social
justice in a very real sense, are attractive enough for the State to find
money to float the scheme immediately. [Para 7.15.4]
(147) The National Informatics Centre in collaboration with or with the
assistance of the Indian Law Institute and the Government Law
Departments should set up a Digital Legal Information System in the
country so that all courts, legal departments, law schools would be able
to access and retrieve information from the data bank of the important
law libraries in the country." [Para 7.17.2]
(148) Progressively the hierarchy of the subordinate courts in the
country should be brought down to a two-tier of subordinate judiciary
under the High Court. Further, strict selection criteria and adequate
training facilities for the presiding officers of such courts should be
provided. In order to cope up with the workload of cases at the lower
level and also to curtail arrears and delay, the States should appoint
honorary judicial magistrates selected from experienced lawyers on the
criminal side to try and dispose less serious and petty cases on part-time
basis on the pattern of Recorders and Assistant Recorders in UK. They
could set for, say, 100 days in a year and hold court later in the evenings
after regular court hours. This would relieve the load on the regular
magistracy. [Para 7.18]
(149) Since the issues relating to human rights, more particularly
relating to unlawful detention, have now occupied a center-stage, both
nationally and internationally, it shall be desirable that the Protection of
Human Rights Act, 1993 may be suitably amended to provide that, in
addition to the powers generally vested in that Court, such courts shall
have the power to issue directions of the nature of a habeas corpus as
was available to the High Courts under section 491 of the CrPC. Vesting
of such power will go a long way in providing help to the indigent and
vulnerable sections of the society in view of the proximity and easy
 accessibility of the Court of Session. [Para 7.19.3]
CHAPTER 8: UNION-STATE RELATIONS
LEGISLATION
(150) Individual and collective consultation with the States should be
undertaken through the Inter-State Council established under article
263 of the Constitution. Further, the Inter-State Council Order, 1990,
issued by the President may clearly specify in para 4(b) of the order the
subjects that should form part of consultation in the Inter-State Council.
[8.2.13]
(151) “Management of Disasters and Emergencies, Natural or Man-Made”
should be included in List III of the Seventh Schedule. [Para 8.2.14]
FINANCE
(152) It might be worthwhile to provide explicitly for taxing power for the
States in respect of certain specified services. For the Union also an
explicit entry would be helpful, rather than leaving it to the residuary
power of entry 97. However, it may be better to first let a consensus list
of services to be taxed by the States come into force to be treated as the
exclusive domain of the States, even if the formal taxing power is
exercised by the Union. A de facto enumeration of services that can be
taxed exclusively by the States should get priority from policy makers
with a view to augmenting the resource pool of the States. Specific
enumeration of services that may become amenable to taxation by the
States should be made. An appropriate amendment to the Constitution in
this behalf should be made to include certain taxes, now levied and
collected by the Union, to be levied and collected by the States.[Para 8.5]
TRADE, COMMERCE AND INTERCOURSE
(153) For carrying out the objectives of articles 301, 302, 303 and 304,
and other purposes relating to the needs and requirements of inter-State
trade and commerce and for purposes of eliminating barriers to inter-
state trade and commerce Parliament should, by law, establish an
authority called the “Inter-State Trade and Commerce Commission”
under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce under article 307 read
with Entry 42 of List-I. [Para 8.8.2]

RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
(154) Article 139A, which confers power on the Supreme Court to
withdraw cases involving the same or substantially the same question of
law, which are pending in Supreme Court and one or more High Courts,
should be amended so as to provide that it can withdraw to itself cases
even if they are pending in one court where such questions as to the
 legislative competence of the Parliament or State Legislature are involved.
[Para 8.9.4]
(155) As river water disputes being important disputes between two or
more States and/or the Union, they should be heard and disposed by a
bench of not less than three Judges and if necessary, a bench of five
Judges of the Supreme Court for final disposal of the suit. [Para 8.11.7]
(156) Appropriate provisions may be made as envisaged by article 145(1)
in consultation with the Supreme Court or if the Supreme Court so opts
to provide for the same by the Supreme Court Rules to appoint
Commissioners or Masters and to have the evidence recorded not by the
Supreme Court itself but by the Commissioners or Masters so that the
precious time of the Supreme Court is saved. [Para 8.11.8]
(157) Appropriate Parliamentary legislation should be made for repealing the
River Boards Act, 1956 and replacing it by another comprehensive enactment
under Entry 56 of List I. The new enactment should clearly define the
constitution of the River Boards and their jurisdiction so as to regulate, develop
and control all inter-State rivers keeping intact the adjudicated and the
recognized rights of the States through which the inter-State river passes and
their inhabitants. While enacting the legislation, national interest should be the
paramount consideration as inter-State rivers are ‘material resources’ of the
community and are national assets. Such enactment should be passed by
Parliament after having effective and meaningful consultation with all the State
Governments.[Para 8.11.9]
(158) In resolving problems and coordinating policy and action, Union as
well as the States should more effectively utilize the forum of inter-State
Council as recommended by the Commission on Centre-State Relations
(Sarkaria Commission). This will be in tune with the spirit of cooperative
federalism requiring proper understanding and mutual confidence and
resolution of problems of common interest expeditiously. [8.12.4]
(159) In order to reduce tension or friction between States and the Union
and for expeditious decision-making on important issues involving
States, the desirability of prior consultation by the Union Government
with the inter-State Council may be considered before signing any treaty
vitally affecting the interests of the States regarding matters in the State
List. [Para 8.13.3]

EXECUTIVE
(160) The powers of the President in the matter of selection and
appointment of Governors should not be diluted. However, the Governor
of a State should be appointed by the President only after consultation
with the Chief Minister of that State. Normally the five year term should
be adhered to and removal or transfer should be by following a similar
 procedure as for appointment i.e. after consultation with the Chief
Minister of the concerned State. [Para 8.14.2]
(161) In the matter of selection of a Governor, the following matters
mentioned in para 4.16.01 of Volume I of the Sarkaria Commission
Report should be kept in mind:- (i) He should be eminent in some walk of
life. (ii) He should be a person from outside the State. (iii) He should be a
detached figure and not too intimately connected with the local politics of
the State. (iv) He should be a person who has not taken too great a part
in politics generally, and particularly in the recent past.
In selecting a Governor in accordance with the above criteria, the
persons belonging to the minority groups should continue to be given a
chance as hitherto. [Para 8.14.3]
(162) There should be a time-limit – say a period of six months – within
which the Governor should take a decision whether to grant assent or to
reserve a Bill for consideration of the President. If the Bill is reserved for
consideration of the President, there should be a time-limit, say of three
months, within which the President should take a decision whether to
accord his assent or to direct the Governor to return it to the State
Legislature or to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court regarding the
constitutionality of the Act under article 143.[Para 8.14.4]
(163) Suitable amendment should be made in the Constitution so that the
assent given by the President should avail for all purposes of relevant
articles of the Constitution. However, it is desirable that when a Bill is
sent for the President's assent, it would be appropriate to draw the
attention of the President to all the articles of the Constitution, which
refer to the need for the assent of the President to avoid any doubts in
court proceedings. [Para 8.14.6]
(164) A suitable Article should be inserted in the Constitution to the effect
that an assent given by the President to an Act shall not be permitted to be
argued as to whether it was given for one purpose or another. When the
President gives his assent to the Bill, it shall be deemed to have been given
for all purposes of the Constitution. [Para 8.14.7]
(165) Following proviso may be added to article 111 of the Constitution:
"Provided that when the President declares that he assents to the
Bill, the assent shall be deemed to be a general assent for all purposes of
the Constitution."
Suitable amendment may also be made in article 200. [Para 8.14.8]
(166) Article 356 should not be deleted. But it must be used sparingly
and only as a remedy of the last resort and after exhausting action under
other articles like 256, 257 and 355. [Paras 8.18 and 8.19.2]
(167) In case of political breakdown, necessitating invoking of article
356, before issuing a proclamation thereunder, the concerned State
should be given an opportunity to explain its position and redress the
situation, unless the situation is such, that following the above course
would not be in the interest of security of State, or defence of the
country, or for other reasons necessitating urgent action. [Para 8.19.5]
(168) The question whether the Ministry in a State has lost the
confidence of the Legislative Assembly or not, should be decided only on
the floor of the Assembly and nowhere else. If necessary, the Union
Government should take the required steps, to enable the Legislative
Assembly to meet and freely transact its business. The Governor should
not be allowed to dismiss the Ministry, so long as it enjoys the confidence
of the House. It is only where a Chief Minister refuses to resign, after his
Ministry is defeated on a motion of no-confidence, that the Governor can
dismiss the State Government. In a situation of political breakdown, the
Governor should explore all possibilities of having a Government enjoying
majority support in the Assembly. If it is not possible for such a
Government to be installed and if fresh elections can be held without
avoidable delay, he should ask the outgoing Ministry, (if there is one), to
continue as a caretaker government, provided the Ministry was defeated
solely on a issue, unconnected with any allegations of maladministration
or corruption and is agreeable to continue. The Governor should then
dissolve the Legislative Assembly, leaving the resolution of the
constitutional crisis to the electorate. [Para 8.20.3]
(169) The problem of political breakdown would stand largely resolved if
the recommendations made in Chapter 4 in regard to the election of the
leader of the House (Chief Minister) and the removal of the Government
only by a constructive vote of no-confidence are accepted and
implemented. [Paras 8.20.3 and 8.20.4]
Normally, President’s Rule in a State should be proclaimed on the
basis of Governor’s Report under article 356(1). The Governor’s report
should be a “speaking document”, containing a precise and clear
statement of all material facts and grounds, on the basis of which the
President may satisfy himself, as to the existence or otherwise of the
situation contemplated in article 356. [Para 8.20.5]
(170) In clause (5) of article 356 of the Constitution, in clause (a) the word
“and” occurring at the end should be substituted by the word “or” so that
even without the State being under a proclamation of Emergency,
President's rule may be continued if elections cannot be held.
[Para 8.21.3]
(171) Whenever a proclamation under article 356 has been issued and
approved by the Parliament it may become necessary to review the
continuance in force of the proclamation and to restore the democratic
processes earlier than the expiry of the stipulated period. For this, new
clauses (6) & (7) to article 356 may be added on the following lines:
“(6)Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing clauses,
the President shall revoke a proclamation issued under clause (1) or a
proclamation varying such proclamation if the House of the People
passes a resolution disapproving, or, as the case may be, disapproving
the continuance in force of, such proclamation.
(7) Where a notice in writing signed by not less than one-tenth of
the total number of members of the House of the People has been given,
of their intention to move a resolution for disapproving, or, as the case
may be, for disapproving the continuance in force of, a proclamation
issued under clause (1) or a proclamation varying such proclamation:
(a) to the Speaker, if the House is in session; or
(b) to the President, if the House is not in session,
a special sitting of the House shall be held within fourteen days
from the date on which such notice is received by the Speaker, or, as the
case may be, by the President, for the purpose of considering such
resolution.”. [Para 8.21.4]
(172) Article 356 should be amended so to ensure that the State
Legislative Assembly should not be dissolved either by the Governor or the
President before the proclamation issued under article 356(1) has been
laid before Parliament and it has had an opportunity to consider it.
[Para 8.22.3]
(173) Government may consider the demands of the Coorgies for a
Sainik School, a Development Board and a University for them in Coorg.
[Para 8.23.1]
(174) Steps may be taken for better protection of Sindhi language and
culture by setting up of a Centre of Sindhi Language and Culture with
the State providing necessary facilities for the same. Difficulties faced by
the Sindhi migrants may be examined and corrective measures taken to
facilitate grant of citizenship as per the existing law. [Para 8.23.2]

CHAPTER 9: DECENTRALISATION AND DEVOLUTION (PANCHAYATS)

(175) Article 243K and 243Z should be amended on the following lines:
1. Amendment of Article 243K.- In article 243K,- (a) for clause
(1), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely:-
“(1) Subject to the provisions of clause (1A), the superintendence,
 direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the
conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats shall be vested in a State
Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be
appointed by the Governor.
(1A) The Election Commission shall have the power to issue any
directions or instructions to the State Election Commission for the
discharge of its functions under clause (1).”.
(b) after clause (4), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
“(5) The State Election Commission shall submit its annual report to the
Election Commission and to the Governor, every year and it may, at any
time, submit special reports on any matter which in its opinion is of such
urgency or importance that it should not be deferred till the submission
of its annual report.”.
2. Amendment of article 243ZA.- In article 243ZA, for clause (1), the
following clauses shall be substituted, namely:-
“(1) Subject to the provisions of clause (1A), the superintendence,
direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the
conduct of, all elections to the Municipalities shall be vested in the State
Election Commission referred to in article 243K.
(1A) The Election Commission shall have the power to issue any
directions or instructions to the State Election Commission for the
discharge of its functions under clause (1).”.[Para 9.6.2]
(176) Panchayats should be categorically declared to be ‘institutions of
self-government’ and exclusive functions be assigned to them. For this
purpose, article 243G should be amended to read as follows:-
"Powers, authority and responsibility of Panchayats
243G. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a
State shall, by law, vest the Panchayats with such powers and authority
as are necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-
government and such law shall contain provisions for the devolution of
powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats at the appropriate level,
subject to such conditions as shall be specified therein, with respect to-
(a) preparation of plans for economic development and social justice;
(b) the implementation of schemes for economic development and social
justice as shall be entrusted to them including those in relation to the
matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule.".
Similar amendments should be made in Article 243W relating to the
powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities, etc.[9.7.1&9.7.2]
(177) The Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules to the Constitution should be
restructured in a manner that creates a separate fiscal domain for
Panchayats and Municipalities. Accordingly, articles 243H and 243X
 should be amended making it mandatory for the legislation of the States to
make laws devolving powers to Panchayats and Municipalities. [9.8.2]
(178) In order to enable the Finance Commission to take a macro-level
view, the provisions sub-clauses (bb) and (c) of clause (3) of article 280
should be amended. The words “on the basis of the recommendation” in
these sub-clauses should be replaced by the words “after taking into
consideration the recommendations.” [Para 9.8.3]
(179) In the part of clause (1) of article 243-I which calls for constitution of
State Finance Commission (SFC) at the expiration of every fifth year, in line
with article 280(1), the words “or at such earlier time as the Governor
considers necessary” may be added after the words ‘fifth year’. While it is
for the State Legislature to ensure that the Government implements fully
its assurances, there should be constitutional obligations for placing the
Action Taken Report (ATR) before the legislature within ‘six months’ after
the submission of the report. Clause (4) of article 243-I may need to be
amended accordingly. [Para 9.8.4]
(180) The necessary legislative power of fixing upper limit of taxes on
professions, trades, callings and employment under article 276 should be
vested in Parliament by suitably amending that article. [Para 9.8.5]
(181) All local authorities may be allowed to borrow from the State
Government and financial institutions. [Para 9.8.6]
(182) An enabling provision should be made in Part IX of the Constitution
permitting the State Legislature to make, by law, provisions that would
empower the State to confer on Panchayats full power of administrative
and functional control over such staff as are transferred following
devolution of functions, notwithstanding any right they may have acquired
from State Act/Rules. They should also have the power to recruit certain
categories of staff required for service in their jurisdiction. [Para 9.9.1]
(183) A proviso to clause (1) of article 243E should be inserted to the effect
that a reasonable opportunity of being heard shall be given to a Panchayat
before it is dissolved. [Para 9.10]
(184) A provision for constitution of a State Panchayat Council under the
chairmanship of the Chief Minister [on the pattern of Gujarat State Council
for Panchayats as provided in the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 1993] should
be made in the Constitution on the analogy of the provision in article 263 of
the Constitution relating to the Inter-State Council. The leader of the
opposition may be made ex-officio vice-chairman of the Council to provide
a consensual approach to the development of Panchayats as fully
democratic, efficient and responsible institutions. [Para 9.11]
(185) Necessary provisions should be made for audit of Panchayat
accounts to ensure that all works related to audit (conduct of audit,
 submission of audit report and compliance with audit objections if any)
are completed within a year of the close of a financial year. To ensure
uniformity in the practice relating to audits of accounts, the Comptroller
and Auditor-General of India should be empowered to conduct the audit
or lay down accounting standards for Panchayats. [Para 9.12]
MUNICIPALITIES
(186) Whenever a Municipality is superseded, a report stating the
grounds for such dissolution should be placed before the State
Legislature. [Para 9.13]
(187) All provisions regarding qualifications and disqualifications for
elections to local authorities should be consolidated in a single law and
until that is done, each State should prepare a manual of existing
provisions for public information. [Para 9.14]
(188) The State Election Commission (SEC) should have the authority to
prescribe ceiling of expenses and code of conduct in elections. Further,
the State laws should clearly specify the powers of the SEC to disqualify
candidates or set aside elections in the event of violations of those laws.
[Para 9.15]
(189) It should be the duty of a State and the Union (in case of
Panchayats and Municipalities located in Union territories) to ensure the
completion of elections within the stipulated limits. It should also be
duty of the State Election Commissioner to ensure this and in the event
of possible delay make a report to the Governor of the State drawing his
attention to the problems and suggesting remedial action to fulfill the
requirements of the Constitution. Articles 243K and 243 ZA should be
suitably amended to specify that the responsibility for the conduct of
elections shall include all preparatory steps for the same including the
electoral rolls and matters connected therewith and the responsibility for
the same shall vest with the State Election Commission. [Para 9.16.2]
(190) The functions and responsibilities of delimitation, reservation and
rotation of seats and matters connected therewith should be vested in a
delimitation Commission constituted by law by the appropriate
legislature and not in the SEC. [Para 9.16.2]
(191) The Representation of the People Act and State laws should specify
that common polling stations should be used for elections to local bodies,
State Legislatures and Parliament. [Para 9.17.2]
(192) The State laws should provide guidelines for the delimitation work
such as parity, as far as possible, in the ratio between the population of
a territorial constituency and the number of seats within the same class
of Panchayats or Municipalities. [Para 9.17.3]
(193) State laws should specify that changes in the administrative
boundaries of districts, sub-divisions, taluks, police stations, etc., should
not be made within six months prior to a panchayat or a municipal
election. [Para 9.17.4]
(194) To remove ambiguities, articles 243D and 243T should be suitably
amended to provide for rotation and changes only at the time of
delimitation and not in between. State laws should provide the guidelines
for the process of reservation which should ensure transparency and
adequate opportunities for eliciting voter response. [Para 9.18.2]
(195) To clarify the precise position of reservation under clause (6) of
article 243D and clause (6) of article 243T to be provided by the State law,
the overall total of reserved seats and reserved offices in Panchayats and
Municipalities should be specified. [Para 9.18.3]
(196) State Election Commissioner should have a fixed term of 5 years. He/she
should be equal to a Judge of the High Court. The broad qualifications for a
State Election Commissioner may be specified under State law. [Para 9.19.1]
(197) The concept of a distinct and separate tax domain for municipalities
should be recognised. This concept should be reflected in a list of taxes in
the relevant schedule. Carving out items from the existing State lists such
as item 49 (taxes on land and buildings) and item 52 (taxes on entry of
goods into a local area for consumption) should not be difficult. [Para 9.21]
INSTITUTIONS IN NORTH EAST INDIA
(198) The North Eastern part of India with its large number of tribal
communities and emerging educated elites has self-governing village
councils and organized tribal chiefdoms. Efforts are to be made to give all
the States in this region the opportunities provided under the 73rd and
74th Constitution Amendments. However, this should be done with due
regard to the unique traditions of the region and the genius of the people
without tampering with their essential rights and giving to each State the
chance to use its own nomenclature for systems of governance which will
have local acceptance. [Para 9.22.3]
(199) Careful steps should be taken to devolve political powers through
the intermediate and local-Ievel traditional political organisations,
provided their traditional practices carried out in a modern world do not
deny legitimate democratic rights to any section in their contemporary
society. The details of state-wise steps to devolve such powers will have
to be carefully considered in a proper representative meeting of
traditional leaders of each community, opinion builders of the respective
communities and leaders of State and national stature from these very
groups. A hasty decision could have serious repercussions, unforeseen
and unfortunate, which could further complicate and worsen the
 situation. To begin with, the subjects given under the Sixth Schedule and
those mentioned in the Eleventh Schedule could be entrusted to the
Autonomous District Councils (ADCs). The system of in-built safeguards
in the Sixth Schedule should be maintained and strengthened for the
minority and micro-minority groups while empowering them with greater
responsibilities and opportunities, for example, through the process of
Central funding for Plan expenditure instead of routing all funds through
the State Governments. The North Eastern Council can play a central
role here by developing a process of public education on the proposed
changes, which would assure communities about protection of their
traditions and also bring in gender representation and give voice to other
ethnic groups. [Para 9.23(i)]
(200) Traditional forms of governance should be associated with self-
governance because of the present dissatisfaction. However, positive
democratic elements like gender justice and adult franchise should be
built into these institutions to make them broader based and capable of
dealing with a changing world. [Para 9.23(ii)]
(201) The implementation of centrally funded projects from various
departments of the Union Government should be entrusted to the ADCs
and to revived village councils with strict monitoring by the Comptroller
and Auditor-General of India. [Para 9.23(iii)]
(202) The process of protection of identity and the process of
development and change are extremely sensitive. These twin processes
need to be understood in the framework of a changing world and the role
of all communities, small and large, in that world. Therefore, the North
Eastern Council should be mandated to conduct an intensive programme
of public awareness, sensitization and education through non-
government organizations, State Governments, and its own structure to
help bring about such an understanding of the proposals. [Para 9.23(iv)]
(203) The provisions of the Anti-Defection Law in the proposed revised
form as recommended in para 4.18.2 of the Report should be made
applicable to all the Sixth Schedule areas. [Para 9.23(v)]
(204) Given the demographic imbalance which is taking place in the
North-East as a result of illegal migration from across the borders,
urgent legal steps are necessary for preventing such groups from
entering electoral rolls and citizenship rolls of the country. Reservations
for local communities and minorities from other parts of the country
should be made in the State Legislatures. Issuance of multi-purpose
identity cards to all Indian citizens should be made mandatory for all
Indian residents in the North East on a high-priority basis and the
National Citizenship Law to be reviewed to plug the loopholes which
 enable illegal settlers to become ‘virtual’ citizens in a short span of time,
using a network of touts, politicians and officials. [Para 9.23(vi)]
(205) A National Immigration Council should be set up under law to
examine and report on a range of issues including Work Permits for legal
migrants, Identity Cards for all residents, a National Migration Law, a
National Refugee Law, review of the Citizenship Act, the Illegal Migrants
Determination by Tribunal Act and the Foreigners Act. [Para 9.23(vii)]
(206) Local communities should be involved in the monitoring of our
borders, in association with the local police and the Border Security
Force. [Para 9.23(viii)]
(207) As regards Nagaland, Naga Councils should be replaced by elected
representatives of various Naga society groups with an intermediary tier
at the district level. Village Development Boards should be less
dependent on State and receive more Centrally-sponsored funds. [9.25]
(208) As regards Assam - (i) the Sixth Schedule should be extended to the
Bodoland Autonomous Council with protection for non-tribal, non-Bodo
groups, (ii) other Autonomous Councils be upgraded to Autonomous
Development Councils with more Central funds for infrastructure
development; within the purview of the 73rd Amendment but also
using traditional governing systems at the village level. [Para 9.28]
(209) As regards Meghalaya, –
(1) A tier of village governance should be created for a village or a
group of villages in the Autonomous District Councils, comprising of
elected persons from the traditional systems plus from existing village
councils with not more than 15 persons at each village unit. (2) The
number of seats in each of the Autonomous District Councils in
Meghalaya should be increased by 10 seats, i.e., to a total number of 40
seats. Of the 10 additional seats, having regard to the non-
representation of women and non-tribals, the Governor may nominate up
to five members from these categories to each of the ADCs. The other five
may be elected as follows:-
(a) By Syiems and Myntris, from among themselves to the Khasi
Autonomous Council.
(b) By Dolois from among themselves to the Jaintia Autonomous
District Council; and
(c) By Nokmas from among themselves to the Garo Autonomous
District Council. [Para 9.29]
(210) As regards Tripura, –
(i) The changes which may be made in respect of other
Autonomous Councils should also apply in respect of the Autonomous
District Council(s) in Tripura.
 (ii) The number of elected members in the Council should be
increased from 28 to 32.
(iii) The number of nominated members should be increased to six
from the current two. The existing non-tribal seats (currently, they have
three elected seats) be converted to tribal seats. Three non-tribals may
be nominated by the Governor and three tribal women may be nominated
by the Chief Executive Member. [Para 9.30]
(211) As regards Mizoram, –
(i) An intermediary elected 30-member tier should be developed at
the district level in areas not covered by the Sixth
Schedule, i.e., excluding the Chakma, Lai and Mara District Autonomous
Councils. There would thus be two tiers below the State Legislature: the
District and the Village.
(ii) Village Councils in non-Scheduled areas should be given more
administrative and judicial powers; two or more villages be combined to
form one village council, given the small population in the State.
(iii) Consideration should be given to groups seeking Sixth
Schedule status, depending on viability of the demand, including size of
population, territorial and ethnic contiguity.
(iv) Central funding as outlined in general recommendations
should be provided to the ADCs.
(v) Nominated seats for women, non-tribals and Sixth Schedule
tribes in non-scheduled area (not to exceed six over and above the size of
the Councils, making a total of 36 members); current size of ADCs
should be increased to 30 with a similar provision for women and non-
scheduled tribes. [Para 9.31]
(212) As regards Manipur, (i) the provisions of the Sixth Schedule should
be extended to hill districts of the State, (ii) the 73rd Amendment should
be implemented vigorously in the areas of the plains where, despite
elections, the system is virtually non-existent. [9.32]
CHAPTER 10: PACE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGE & DEVELOPMENT
(213) The Citizens’ Charters be prepared by every service providing
department/agency to enumerate the entitlements of the citizens. In case
a citizen fails to receive the public goods and the services in the manner
and to the extent set out in such charters, he/she should have recourse
to an easy and effective system of grievance redressal through chartered
Ombudsman. These citizen’s charters should include specifically the
entitlements of citizens belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled
Tribes (STs) and other deprived classes. In the case of these deprived
classes the charters can with advantage provide for National and State
Commission for SCs, STs, BCs (Backward Classes), Minorities, women,
 safai karamcharis to function effectively as ombudsman-bodies. The
charter of these National and State Commissions and the way they are
constituted should be such as to facilitate the role, inter alia, as
ombudsman-bodies for different deprived classes. [Para 10.3.2]
(214) The Civil Services Boards, recommended to be set up under
Chapter 6 for considering promotions and placements, should be
directed to specifically consider the performance of officers in promoting
the welfare of Scheduled Castes, scheduled tribes and other deprived
categories. When officers are being considered for promotion and
placement economic agencies/ministries, weightage should be given to
officers who have worked conscientiously and efficiently to implement
constitutional values and norms under the law and rules and regulations
for the welfare, development and empowerment of the above
disadvantaged categories and those who have failed in this and those
who have not worked at least for five years in the areas and sectors
pertaining to these categories should be excluded from placements in
economic ministries/agencies. For this purpose, the provision should be
made for Social Justice Clearance before an officer of class I or class II is
promoted along the lines detailed in para 3.2 at pages 1390-1391 of
Book-3, Vol.II. [Para 10.3.3]
(215) Reservation for members of the SCs and the STs should be brought
under purview of a statute covering all aspects of reservation, as detailed
in para 8.10 at pages 1406-1408 of Book-3, Vol.II, including setting up
Arakshan Nyaya Adalats or Tribunal to adjudicate upon all cases and
disputes pertaining to reservation in posts and vacancies in Government,
Public Sector, Banks and other financial institutions, Universities and all
other institutions and organisations to which reservations are and
become applicable. These Tribunals should have the status of High
Courts, appeals lying only to the Supreme Court. These Tribunals
should have their main Bench at Delhi and other Benches in the
States. The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the
Tribunal and its benches should be selected on the basis of their record
in the implementation of Reservation in their earlier positions. The
statute should, inter alia, have a penal provision including imprisonment
for those convicted of wilfully or negligently failing to implement
reservation. The statute and related provisions should be brought under
the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution. [Para 10.3.4]
(216) The three Constitution amendments enacted in the last two years
to undo the harm done in 1997 to the long pre-existing rights of SCs and
STs in reservations should be put into effect forthwith. The Central and
State Governments should amend the executive orders issued in 1997
 regarding the roster and restore the pre-1996 roster. This should also be
brought under the purview of the statute mentioned above. [Para 10.3.5]
(217) Reservation for backward classes should also be brought under a
statute which, while containing the specificities of reservation for BCs
should also contain provisions for Arakshan Nyaya Adalats or Tribunal
for providing Justice in reservation, penal provisions, etc. as
recommended in case of statute in respect of SCs and STs. [Para 10.3.6]
(218) It should be mandatorily stipulated in the Memoranda of
Understanding (M.O.Us.) of privatisation or dis-investment of public
sector undertakings that the policy of reservation in favour of SCs, STs
and BCs shall be continued even after privatisation or dis-investment in
the same form as it exists in the Government and this should also be
incorporated in the respective statutes of reservation. As a measure of
social integration there should be a half per cent reservation for children
of parents one of whom is SC/ST and the other parent is non-SC/non-ST
and this reservation should be termed as reservation for the Casteless.
[Para 10.3.7]
(219) In view of the weighty opinion against the formal introduction of
reservation in the higher judiciary, and the fact that over fifty years, the
progress of education, however tardy, has certainly produced adequate
number of persons of the SC, ST and BC in every State who possess the
required qualifications, having necessary integrity, character and
acumen required for Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts for
appointment as Judge of the superior judiciary, a way could and should,
therefore, be found to bring a reasonable number of SCs, STs and BCs
on to the Benches of the Supreme Court and High Courts in the same
way in which, in practice, it is found is followed in respect of advocates
from different social segments/regions of the country/States or different
religious communities so that on the one hand the overwhelming opinion
against formal reservation in the Supreme Court and High Courts is
respected and on the other hand, the feeling of alienation of the vast
majority of Indians comprising SCs, STs and BCs that, in spite of having
persons of requisite calibre and character among them, they are being
ignored in the appointment of Judges, is resolved. [Para 10.3.9]
(220) There should be reservation for SCs, STs and BCs (including BC
minorities and especially More and Most Backward classes), with a due
proportion of women from each of these categories in the matter of
allotment of shops under the public distribution system, and other
allotments like petrol stations, gas agencies, etc. for distribution of
commodities by public authority. There is need for support mechanism
to help entrepreneurs among these deprived sections to help them to
 come up in these business ventures. These measures should be taken
on lines as spelt out in para 4.6 at pg 1393 of Book-3 Vol.II. [10.3.10]
(221) Massive programmes of employment should be undertaken and
expanded to cover all such people and provide them employment at
statutory minimum wage fixed for agricultural labourers at least for 80
days in the year over and above the unsteady employment they normally
have. The nature of the work to be undertaken, the mode of payment of
wages etc. should be as detailed in para 4.5 at pages 1392 to 1393 of
Book-3 of Volume-II. Inclusion of Right to Work as a fundamental right
has been recommended in para 3.13.2 of this Report and this will
provide the necessary constitutional base and support for this
programme. [Para 10.3.11]
(222) Residential schools for SCs and STs should be established in every
district in the country – one each for SC boys and SC girls, and ST boys
and ST girls, as one item of an important package of comprehensive
measures required for development and empowerment of SCs and STs.
Similarly, the Commission recommends that residential schools should
be set up for the BCs in every district, one each for BC boys and BC girls,
including minorities who belong to BCs and with special attention to
More Backward and Most Backward classes among BCs. The proportion
of the students of the specific category of weaker sections (say 75%) and
of other social categories (say25%), principles of location, methodology of
covering the Minority B.C., phasing and funding, mode of selection of the
candidates, management etc. should be as detailed in paras 5.4 and 6.2
at pages 1395 to 1397 of Book 3 of Volume II. This system has got the
support of the precedent and experience for the last two decades in
Andhra Pradesh state, providing ground for hope in this important and
indispensable measure. In addition, the Commission recommends that it
is also necessary to see that the SCs, STs and BCs especially the Most
Backward classes of BCs from poor and middle-class families get due
benefit of good and prestigious private educational institutions in the
country as well as in foreign educational institutions at all levels and in
all disciplines, at state cost. Funding for this can be found by measures
outlined in sub-para (v) of para 5.4 at page 1396 of Book 3 of Vol- II. The
measures detailed in sub para (ii) and (iv) of para 5.4 at pages 1395 and
1396 of Book 3 of Volume II should be followed in the matter. [10.4.1]
(223) Incentives should be offered to students to prepare for such
courses of study in technical, vocational, scientific and professional
disciplines. Only a massive transfer of resources to the educational
programmes for the SCs and STs will enable us to achieve the kind of
quantitative expansion needed to bring these communities on par with
 others in terms of skills and knowledge base to engage with the modern
world. It is only then that they would be in a position to compete on the
basis of their own strength and rise to the leadership role in different
spheres of public life. This aspect of measures for building up a reservoir
of highly educated professional, scientific and technological manpower
among these categories in population equivalent proportion should be
borne in mind along with its earlier recommendations regarding
residential schools of high quality and elementary education, and
provisions and outlays should be made accordingly. [Para 10.4.3]
(224) Social policy should aim at enabling the SCs, STs and BCs
(including BC minorities and especially the More and Most Backward
Classes among BCs) and with particular attention to the girls in each of
these categories to compete on equal terms with the general
category. This was always necessary but this becomes more important
and increasingly urgent in the context of a knowledge society that is
emerging. Reservation has helped the above deprived categories to enter
state educational institutions from which they had been debarred and /
or otherwise excluded in the past. Reservation continues to be necessary
since these adverse factors have not ceased to exist. But with the growth
of high quality educational institutions built up by the wealthier
sections, almost entirely drawn from non-SC, non-ST, non-BC categories,
as a high quality stream distinct and separate from the state educational
system, it becomes important to ensure that other measures in addition
to reservations are introduced. Without these measures, along with the
Commissions recommendations on elementary education, the gap
between the SC, ST and BC on the one hand and the rest of society will
inexorably continue and even be widened. [Para 10.4.4]
(225) The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry
Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, should be strictly enforced to bring to an
early end to this degrading practice of manual scavenging so offensive to
human dignity without abridgement of the employment and income of
existing Safai Karamcharis. Automatic applicability of the Act to all
States should be brought about by the amendment suggested in para 7.2
at page 1399 of Book 3 of Volume II. Further, the specifics and details of
the abolition of the manual scavenging system and the liberation and
rehabilitation of safai karamcharis and protection of safai karamcharis
during the transition period should be as detailed in para 7.3 of pages
1399 to 1401 of Book 3 of Volume II, including its incorporation in the
System of Social Justice Clearance of officers at the time of their
consideration for promotion. Limitations placed on the National
Commission for Safai Karamcharis should be removed and it should be
 given the same powers and functional autonomy as is being enjoyed by
the National Human Rights Commission; it should be adequately
equipped to achieve its objective of total liberation and full rehabilitation
of safai karamcharis. This should form an integral part of a National
Sanitation Policy-cum-National Social Justice Policy. [Para 10.5]
(226) The bleak situation will continue to bedevil the SCs and STs and
the nation unless appropriate new institutions are created to take charge
of the full quantum of outlay of SCP and TSP (i.e. outlay not less than
the population equivalent proportion of the total plan outlay of the
Centre/each State) and manned by competent experts of SCs and STs
and others genuinely working for them, to formulate Plans in accordance
with the developmental needs and priorities of the SCs and STs and
ensure that these plans are implemented effectively. This new
institutional system should consist of an integrated network of National
Development Council for SCs and STs, and National SCs and STs
Development Authority, State SCs and STs Development Authorities and
District SCs and STs Development Authorities. Out of the total plan
outlay of the Centre and of each State, before sectoral allocations are
made, an outlay equivalent to the population proportion of SCs and STs
should be placed at the disposal of the National and respective State
Authorities, as the corpus of SCP and TsP for formulation of plans in
accordance with the needs and priorities of SC & ST. For this, the
system as detailed in para 9.2 at pages 1409 to 1411 of Book-3, Volume-
II should be established. The schemes as illustrated in sub-para (9) of
para 9.2 at pages 1410-1411 of Book-3, Volume-II should also be taken
up on a massive scale. This will at one stroke remove the various
limitations and difficulties faced by the SCP and TSP and create a
powerful, integrated instrument of social transformation based on the
vision of economic liberation, educational equality and social dignity of
the SCs and STs. [Para 10.6.2]
(227) Land reforms involving distribution and allotment of lands from
different sources (i.e. Government lands not required for genuine public
use, Bhoodan lands, ceiling surplus lands, etc.) to the SCs and STs along
with supportive mechanism in the shape of supply of subsidised capital
and credit and extension be made, and development of these lands
through irrigation and other means be undertaken. In this context, the
measures recommended at (b) of sub-para (9) of para 9.2 at page 1410 of
Book-3, Volume-II and in para 14(i) to (vi) at pages 1416 to 1417 of
Book-3, Volume-II should be implemented. Similarly, with regard to
enforcement of the Minimum Wages Act for agricultural labour, the
methodology recommended at (c) of sub-para (9) of para 9.2 of page 1410
 Book-3, Volume-II should be followed. Strong legal action is needed to
prevent alienation of lands belonging to the tribal communities and
effective prior rehabilitation of tribals before displacement due to
developmental projects. For this purpose, the measures listed in para
13.2 at page 1414 to 1415 of Book-3, Volume-II should be undertaken.
Additionally, the tribal communities have to be associated with the
management of forest resources, for not only their livelihoods, but also
for protecting their way of life and cultural identity which are
indissolubly linked to forests. For this purpose, action as recommended
in sub-paras (10) and (11) of para 13.2 at page 1416 of Book-3, Volume-
II should be taken. [Para 10.7.1]
(228) In the matter of harmonising the preservation of the land
ownership of STs, industrial and other development, action should be
taken as outlined in sub-paras (6), (8) and (9) of para 13.2 of pages 1415
to 1416 of Book-3, Volume-II. [Para 10.7.2]
(229) Special safeguards should be provided to protect the wholesome
traditions of the cultural heritage and of the intellectual property rights
of the tribal people. This is no less important for the tribal identity than
the effort to prevent alienation of land and land-related institutional
rights of tribal people. [Para 10.7.3]
(230) All areas governed by the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution should
be forthwith transferred to the Sixth Schedule extending the applicability of
the Sixth Schedule to tribal areas other than the North Eastern States to
which alone the Sixth Schedule now applies, and all tribal areas which are
neither in the Fifth Schedule nor in the Sixth Schedule should also be
brought forthwith under the Sixth Schedule. Special programmes of
training and orientation for elected representatives of the Sixth Schedule
bodies and related officials should be undertaken & conducted regularly
in order to secure full potential of local developmental and administrative
autonomy envisaged under the Sixth Schedule. [Para 10.7.4]
(231) The Government should step in firmly and clearly, if the gap is to
be bridged between private prejudices, in the name of “efficiency” on the
one hand and the just aspirations of the SC, ST, BC including BC
minorities, and women. For this, the Government should take the
initiative along the lines suggested in para 11.3 at pages 1412 and 1413
of Book-3, Volume-II. [Para 10.7.5]
(232) Further, the Government should examine other economic and
activity sectors at every level of each such sector and see whether the
SCs and STs are adequately represented in each of them. If they are not,
remedial measures either through reservation or through other means
should be undertaken to see that they are adequately represented at
 every level in every such sector. Similar action should also be taken with
regard to backward classes including BC minorities, especially More and
Most Backward Classes and women of all categories. This is possible, if
non-economic prejudices are excluded, without watering down the
genuine requirements of efficiency. [Para 10.7.6]
(233) Agriculturists and other traditional producing classes face certain
adverse effects of sudden and unprepared exposure to the regimes of
WTO, IPR, etc. In order to protect them from these adverse effects while
at the same time to secure the benefits of those regimes, a national
convention should be convened involving Ministers in charge of
Ministries connected with globalisation and Ministers in charge of
Agriculture and other sectors of traditional produce and authentic
representatives of the peasant organizations as well as organisations of
other traditional producing classes, to identify remedial Steps arrive at a
consensus about them and these should be implemented quickly. There
should be a continuing mechanism involving all these to continuously
monitor implementation and corrections and modifications required from
time to time. [Para 10.7.7]
(234) Agriculturists and many other traditional producing classes suffer
from the adverse effects of natural calamities like drought, cyclone,
floods, etc. A similar national convention should identify the measures
required to protect them from such adverse effects of natural calamities
including crop insurance, preparedness etc., arrive at a consensus about
these measures and institute a continuing machinery of continuous
monitoring and corrections and modifications. [Para 10.7.8]
(235) On the one hand, there should be an effective legal structure to
protect the SCs and STs against atrocities and discriminatory practices
based on untouchability and along with such structure and its efficient
functioning and on the other hand, there should also be attitudinal
change of a profound nature in the general society. [Para 10.8.1]
(236) With regard to legal structure, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 needs to be strengthened and
its effective enforcement ensured. This include the establishment of
special courts exclusively to try offences under this Act, inclusion of
certain crimes in the list of atrocities, certain penal provisions where they
do not exist, appropriate plugging of certain loopholes and
comprehensive rehabilitation of victims and so on. For this purpose, the
measures suggested in para 8.2.1, 8.2.2, 8.2.3, 8.3 and 8.4 (a) to (p) of
Book-3, Vol.II at pages 1401 to 1404 should be taken. [Para 10.8.2]
(237) Regarding untouchability which continues to be widely prevalent in
old classic forms as well as in new forms in line with modern
 developments, multi-pronged measures covering human rights
education, moral education, building up of a strong democratic
movement against untouchability and effective punitive action under the
Protection of Civil Right Acts, 1955 (PCR Act) are required. In view of
this, the entire gamut of measures suggested in paras 8.6 to 8.8 at pages
1404 and 1405, Book-3, Vol.II should be taken. [Para 10.8.3]
(238) The National Science and Technology Commission referred to in
Chapter 6 should also promote measures for extending the umbrella of
modern science and technology and higher scientific and technological
research to cover SCs, STs and BCs, women and other poor sections of
the society, devise means by which they can also be introduced into this
field and potential talent among them identified and nurtured so that
they also are enabled to contribute to the advancement of higher
scientific and technological research in the country and so that there is
no feeling that they are shut out from this important area on account of
non-scientific prejudices. [Para 10.9]
(239) The Constitution of India contains distinct provisions for the
protection and promotion of the interests of Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes, Backward classes, women, minorities and other
weaker sections. It is necessary to strengthen these provisions by
amendments, etc. and certain other similar steps. Accordingly, the
amendments to the Constitution listed in para 15 at pages 1417 and 1418
of Book-3, Vol.II, covering articles 46, 335, 16, 15 and List III of the
Seventh Schedule should be carried out.[Para 10.10]
(240) As regards the minorities, the following shall be implemented:-
(a) Steps should be taken for improvement of educational
standards amongst the minority communities. Special programmes
should be drawn up after the widest consultation with the leaders of
minority communities including leaders of BCs, SCs and STs among
Minorities from academic, professional, business, and socio-political
spheres and from low-occupational spheres. Such programmes should be
generously funded. Only educational and cultural advancement will help
the cause of national integration as well as raise the capabilities of the
communities. This is the high road to national cohesion.
(b) At present the political representation of minority communities
in legislatures, especially Muslims, has fallen well below their proportion
of population. The proportion of BCs among them is next to nil. This
can lead to a sense of alienation. It is recommended that in situations of
this kind, it is incumbent for political parties to build up leadership
potential in the minority communities, including BCs, SCs and STs
among them, for participation in political life. The role of the state for
 strengthening the pluralism of Indian polity has to be emphasised.
(c) Backward classes belonging to religious minorities who have
been identified and included in the list of backward classes and who, in
fact, constitute the bulk of the population of religious minorities should
be taken up with special care along with their Hindu counterparts in the
developmental efforts for the backward classes. This should be on the
pattern of the approach to the development of Backward Classes
formulated by the Working Group for the Development and
Empowerment of Backward Classes in the Tenth Plan referred to
separately under Backward Classes.
(d) An effort needs to be made to carry out special recruitment of
persons belonging to the underrepresented minority communities in the
police forces of States, para military forces and armed forces.[10.11.2]
(241) In every State, the linguistic minorities should be provided the
facility of having instruction for their children at elementary stage of
education in their mother tongue. Numerous recommendations in this
behalf and other matters have been made by the Commissioner for
Linguistic Minorities in his successive Annual Reports regarding the
various problems faced by the linguistic minorities. The Government of
India in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the
Ministry of Human Resources Development should collate all these
recommendations and see that substantive action is taken on each of
them. [Para 10.11.3]
(242) The denotified tribes/communities have been wrongly stigmatized
as crime prone and subjected to highhanded treatment as well as
exploitation by the representatives of law and order as well as by the
general society. Some of them are included in the list of Scheduled
Tribes and others are in the list of Scheduled Castes and list of backward
classes. The special approach to their development has been delineated
and emphasized in the Reports of the Working Groups for the
Development of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Backward
Classes in successive Plans and also in the Annual Reports of the
Commissioners for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, National
Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the
National Commission for Backward Classes. There are also special
reports available on de-notified tribes. Their recommendations have not
received attention. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and
the Ministry of Tribal Welfare should collate all these materials and
recommendations contained in the reports of the working groups and the
reports of the National Commissions and other reports referred to and
strengthen the programmes for the economic development, educational
 development, generation of employment opportunities, social liberation
and full rehabilitation of denotified tribes. Whatever has been said about
vimuktajatis also holds good for nomadic and semi-nomadic
tribes/communities. Similar action should be taken in respect of
nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes/communities as done in the case of
de-notified tribes or vimuktajatis. The continued plight of these groups
of communities distributed in the list of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
Tribes and backward classes is an eloquent illustration of the failure of
the machinery for planning, financial resources allocation and budgeting
and administration in the country to seriously follow the mandate of the
Constitution including article 46. The setting up of an integrated net
work of National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development
Authority, etc. recommended in para 10.5.2 to 10.5.3 will provide a
structural mechanism to deal in a practical way with the vimuktajatis as
well as nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes/ communities within the frame
work of the SCP and TsP. Similarly the approach to the development of
backward classes referred to at para 10.14 contains the approach to deal
in a practical way with the Vimuktajatis and nomadic and semi-nomadic
tribes/communities who are in Backward Class list. [Para 10.12.1]
(243) The Commission also considered the representations made on
behalf of the De-notified and Nomadic Tribal Rights Action Group and
decided to forward them to the Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment with the suggestion that they may examine the same
preferably through a Commission. [Para 10.12.2]
(244) The Union legislation for agricultural workers, drafted as far back
as 1978-80, should be introduced and passed immediately. A realistic
scheme of credible implementation of minimum wages Acts with
particular attention to agricultural labours, relying to a suitable degree
on the district Collectors/Dy. Commissioners and district
superintendents of police, should be immediately put into action. For
this purpose the measures suggested in para 17.2 at page 1413 of Book
3 Vol.II should be followed. [Para 10.13.2]
(245) Despite prohibition of begar and other forms of forced labour by
the Constitution, the practice of bonded labour has not ended as it is
patronised by the most powerful sections in the rural areas. Child
labour too is widespread. In order to deal effectively with this problem in
keeping with the mandate of the Constitution, the Commission
recommends that a fully empowered National Authority for the Liberation
and Rehabilitation of bonded labour, as recommended by the
Commission for Rural Labour in 1990-91, should be set up immediately
along with similar authorities at the State level. In addition,
 simultaneous rehabilitation of released Bonded Labourers and education
for released bonded child labourers and other measures referred to in
para 19.2 at page 1414 of Book 3,Vol.II should be taken. [Para 10.14]
(246) The Government should immediately implement every one of the
recommendations of the Working Group on Employment of Backward
Classes in the Tenth Plan which covers all aspects and fields of their
development – Economic, Educational, social, employment, reservation,
etc. – taking in with particular care those backward classes who belong
to religious minorities along with their Hindu counterparts in a cohesive
manner. For example, some of the residential talent schools earmarked
for Backward Classes should be located in areas of concentration of
Muslim B.Cs. Further there should be residential talent schools for
backward classes as separately recommended for SCs and STs at the
rate of one each for boys and girls in each district, 75% being taken from
backward classes and 25% from other categories. The Government
should without any delay introduce reservation for backward classes in
seats in educational institutions since absence of promotion of their
education through reservation and other means when there is
reservation of employment is anomalous. [Para 10.15]
(247) Action in accordance with the suggestions made in para 16.2 at
page 1412 of Book 3 Vol.II, covering reservation, development, empower-
ment, health including malnutrition and maternal anaemia and
protection against violence should be taken.[Para 10.16]
(248) The problems relating to prostitution, child prostitutes and
children of prostitutes have been the subject of a landmark judgment of
the Supreme Court in Gaurav Jain's case of 9th July, 1997 and the
Report of Committee of Secretaries on Prostitution, Child Prostitutes and
children of Prostitutes set up in 1997 as explained in para 20.1 and 20.2
at pages 1414 to 1415 of Book 3 Vol.II. In respect of this area of problem,
the Government should take action according to the suggestion listed at
para 20.3 at page 1415 of Book 3 of Vol. II, covering implementation of
the judgement and the Secretaries’ report, eliminating the Devadasi
system, provision of development and education and prevention of HIV /
AIDS. [Para 10.17]
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