HC to fix targets for 36 Magistrates, monitor progress regularly
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 19: In order to ensure clearance of huge number of pending cases, eight more courts of Additional Special Mobile Magistrates are being created and a proposal in this regard is being placed before the State Cabinet tomorrow for approval. With this, the total number of courts of Special and Additional Special Mobile Magistrates created during the past five months with this specific purpose will go up to 36. Following formal functioning of all these 36 courts, the State High Court will set target for each court regarding clearance of pending cases.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that keeping in view the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission, the Law Department in consultation with the High Court had last year recommended establishment of two Courts of Special Mobile Magistrates, one of Sub-Judge level and the other of Munsiff level, in each district of the State along with supporting staff.
However, the Finance Department conveyed its concurrence to the creation of 14 courts each of Special Mobile Magistrates of Sub-Judge level and Additional Special Mobile Magistrates of Munsiff level for only 14 districts of the State. Accordingly, the State Cabinet vide its decision dated February 24, 2012 gave nod to the creation of 28 courts.
Since the creation of additional courts was aimed at ensuring clearance of huge number of pending cases, the Law Department again made a reference to the Finance Department for creation of remaining eight courts in each category as recommended by the High Court, sources said, adding now the Finance Department has given concurrence to the creation of one court of Additional Special Mobile Magistrate each in eight uncovered districts of the State.
“The proposal for creation of eight courts of Additional Special Mobile Magistrates in the districts of Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Ramban, Reasi, Samba and Shopian along with supporting staff is likely to receive the approval of the State Cabinet tomorrow afternoon”, sources said.
“Since these eight courts and 28 already approved are being established under the financial assistance given by the 13th Finance Commission with the specific purpose of clearing the huge pendency of the cases, the High Court will set up target for each court and also monitor the clearance of pending cases at regular intervals”, sources informed.
They disclosed that posts of Special Mobile Magistrates and Additional Special Mobile Magistrates in respect of already sanctioned 28 courts have already been referred to the Public Service Commission for selection of candidates and these courts would become functional as soon as the PSC completes its exercise. “The posts will be co-terminus with the Government of India funding for the purpose and the specific purpose of the establishment of the courts”, they said.
To a question, sources said that continuation of courts would depend on the clearance of backlog of cases against the prescribed target to be monitored by the Law Department. “The Headquarters of these courts would be fixed by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in consultation with the High Court”, sources added.
As already reported by EXCELSIOR, the Cabinet will also consider the proposal of the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department for modification in the Prime Minister’s Package for Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit (KP) migrants. The proposal has already received the approval of the Apex Committee of the KPs’ representatives.
Sources informed that Cabinet will also accord approval to the proposal of Tourism Department for creation of posts for establishment of Maintenance and Works Wing in the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu.
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