Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 28 announced the allocation of Rs 800 crore for the expansion of the Supreme Court Building Complex after noting that the government acknowledges the problems faced by the stakeholders in the current premises.
The PM made this announcement while delivering the inaugural address to mark the Diamond Jubilee anniversary of the Supreme Court, marking the 75th anniversary of its establishment. He also launched several initiatives of the apex court such as the Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR), Digital Courts 2.0 and a new website for the Supreme Court.
After making the announcement, Modi, in a lighter vein said, "Now one just hopes that no one comes and files a petition stating that it (SC expansion) is an extravagant expenditure."
Noting that the government is committed to improving the physical infrastructure of the courts, the PM stated that more than Rs 7,000 crore has been already distributed for this purpose since 2014.
New laws for the new India
Emphasising that Indian laws must be a reflection of Indian values and modernity, Modi said, "The convergence of Indian values and modernity is equally essential in our legal statutes.” The prime minister further remarked, “The government is actively working on modernizing laws to align with the present situation and best practices.”
Speaking of the government's initiative to rid itself of colonial criminal laws, Modi highlighted the introduction of the three new criminal laws. He said, "Through these changes, our legal, policing, and investigative systems have entered a new era."
Emphasizing the significance of transitioning from centuries-old laws to new statutes, Modi said, "The transition from old laws to new ones should be seamless, which is imperative."
The PM also stated that programs for training and capacity-building initiatives for government officials to transition to the new criminal law regime is already underway.
Jan Vishwas for 'Viksit' Bharat
The Prime Minister noted that the judiciary plays a crucial role in India's ambition of 'Viksit Bharat @2047' which aims to make the country a developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of its independence. He highlighted that the Jan Vishwas bill is the result of the government's effort to create a reliable legal framework.
Cleared by the parliament in the 2023 monsoon session, Jan Vishwas Bill aims to decriminalise 183 provisions in 42 different laws. Under the law many offences that involve imprisonment will be replaced with just a monetary penalty.
Digitisation for access to justice
Noting that the entire justice system in the country is administered and guided by the SC, the PM stated that making justice available in the remotest parts of the nation is one of the government's top priorities. He stated that the third phase of the E-Courts Mission Project was launched with a fund allocation of four times more than the second phase.
At the Union Budget 2023, the government announced the allocation of Rs 7,000 crore for the third phase of the E-courts project, a four-fold jump from the previous Rs 1,670 crore allocation.
Launched in 2005, the project was conceptualised to equip the Indian judiciary with information and communication technology by digitising every facet of litigation from initiation to judgment.
SC, a guardian of the constitution
The PM stated that the makers of the Indian constitution saw the dream of a free India based on freedom, equality and justice and the Supreme Court has continuously tried to preserve these principles. “Whether it is freedom of expression, personal freedom or social justice, the Supreme Court has strengthened India's vibrant democracy,” Modi said.
The prime minister also pointed towards the milestone judgments on individual rights and freedom of speech that have given a new direction to the nation’s socio-political environment.
Apart from Modi, other dignitaries present at the event included Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, judges of the apex court, Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, attorney general Venkatramani and solicitor general Tushar Mehta.
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