SUKHBIR: Punjab to set up special courts for women and NRIs

Fatehgarh Sahib, February 25, 2013: Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today said that with a view to deliver justice in a time-bound manner to women and NRIs, the Punjab Government would set-up 'Special Courts' besides ensuring expeditious delivery of justice through day to day basis hearing in cases of crime against women and in the cases pertaining to  NRIs.

Inaugurating 'Lawyers Complex' here in district courts, Badal, while addressing Judges and Advocates said that the case of setting up Special Courts were under consideration of Punjab Government and the process was on the advanced stage of completion. He said that these courts would become functional soon after getting the approvals from the concerned authorities. He said that the government would also ensure the basic amenities at the local and district courts for the facilitation of advocates, general public and inmates and there would be no shortage of funds for this purpose.

Badal said that in the current session the state has spent Rs. 120 crore on the construction and upgradation of district and local courts.

Divulging details of new judicial complexes to be constructed in the state, Badal said that Punjab would also witness new modern judicial complexes in coming years as the process to purchase the land for judicial complexes has been initiated He said that Rs. 70 crore would be spent to purchase land and construction of new judicial complexes.

On the issue of pendency of legal cases pertaining to NRIs of Punjab, Badal said that the Special Courts would also conduct the day to day basis hearings in such cases so the cases could be completed in a minimum span of time.

Lauding the role of judiciary to provide justice to the aggrieved parties, Badal also congratulated the advocates for bringing a new and hi-tech 'Lawyers Complex'. He said that this state-of-the-art building would provide a suitable environment to the lawyers for their smooth functioning. He said that Punjab Government has given a financial assistance of Rs. 1 crore for this complex while the District Bar Association contributed Rs. 10 lakh for modern library in the complex. He also assured the members of Bar Association that the state government would also extend the requisite assistance to the bar.

Justice Rajiv Bhalla of Punjab and Haryana High Court also advocated the need to provide basic amenities to the general public comes to Judicial Complexes for their cases.

Meanwhile, Justice Ranjit Singh of Punjab and Haryana High Court also informed the gathering that the Session Court of Fatehgarh Sahib would be established as Model Court Complex, which would be equipped with all modern facilities. Justice N.K. Sanghi said that this new state of the art lawyers complex would give pleasant environment to the advocates for providing justice to the general masses. District and Session Judge Kuldip Singh extended vote of thanks.

Prominent amongst other who addressed the gathering included Avinash Rai Khanna, Member Rajya Sabha, Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker Punjab Assembly, Bikram Singh Majitha, NRIs Affairs and Revenue Minister Punjab, Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary Shiromani Akali Dal, Ranjit Singh Libra, Member working committee Shiromani Akali Dal, M.F. Farooqui, DIG, Yashvir Mahajan, Deputy Commissioner and SSP Hardyal Singh Mann.