Court Directs Urgent Budget Allocation for New Court Buildings Amidst Rising Case Backlog
In a landmark judgment, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, led by Mr. Vivek Rusia, ACJ, and Mr. Pradeep Mittal, J., has issued a directive to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh to prioritize the allocation of funds for the development of judicial infrastructure. This directive comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by Basudev Chatterjee, an advocate and the Sanyojak of Jila Vikas Manch, Anuppur, emphasizing the inadequacies in the judicial infrastructure of Anuppur district.
The court highlighted the constitutional duty under Article 21 to ensure adequate infrastructure for the judiciary, deeming it an essential component of democracy. It noted that financial constraints cannot be used as an excuse to deny necessary infrastructure to the judiciary. The court underscored the need for budgetary autonomy for the judiciary to maintain its efficacy and dignity.
The petitioner had sought directions for the construction of a new District Court building in Anuppur with 14 courtrooms, citing the inadequacy of the current facilities which have been functioning in an old rented building since the district was declared a civil district in 2009. Despite repeated requests and proposals, including those from the High Court and the District Bar Association, the necessary budget approval had been delayed due to financial constraints.
In response, the court ordered the Principal Secretary of Finance and Public Works Department and the Secretary of Law Department to appear before the court via video conferencing to explain the delay in budget allocation. The Advocate General assured the court that he would personally look into the matter to expedite the resolution.
The court also expressed concern over similar pending projects across major districts like Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Indore, where the lack of courtrooms has contributed to a significant backlog of cases. The state government has been directed to consider allotting additional land and prioritizing the expansion of court facilities to reduce case pendency and ensure timely justice.
The judgment emphasizes the urgent need for the state government to address the infrastructure deficiencies, warning that the lack of adequate facilities severely hampers the judiciary's ability to function effectively. The court expects a proactive approach from the state government to resolve these issues, with further hearings scheduled for September 30, 2026.
Bottom Line :
Public Interest Litigation - Judicial infrastructure inadequacy - Directions issued to State Government for appropriate budget allocation to construct new court buildings and improve judicial infrastructure.
Statutory provision(s): Article 226 of the Constitution of India, Article 21 of the Constitution of India
