Minister of Law and Justice, Veerappa Moily in his written reply to the Lok Sabha said, “That pursuant to the recommendations of the Law Commission of India in its 1^st, 8^th and 11^th reports, the directions of the Supreme Court of India and the guidelines recommended by the First National Judicial Pay Commission, the Government is seized with the matter of creation of an All India Judicial Service.” He added, “That creation of such a service through competitive examination, would attract brilliant young men and women and thus best talent all over the country would come to the judiciary, as in respect of other All India Services, and improve overall justice delivery system.”

Pertaining to National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Moily informed that, “The State, District and Taluk Legal Services Authorities are in the process of setting up Legal Aid Clinics across the country. The National Plan of Action for the year 2009-10 and 2010-11 contemplate setting up of Legal Aid Clinics in all Mandal level and Panchayat level. Now NALSA is planning to set up Legal Aid Clinics in all villages.

Please read: Legal Services Clinic-Law students giving back to the community

Moily said, “The Government has taken various measures to provide speedy justice to common man. With a view to ensuring expeditious disposal of cases, a ‘Vision Statement’ indicating an Action Plan was presented in the ‘National Consultation for strengthening of Judiciary towards Reducing pendency and Delays’. It is expected that the period of pendency of cases in the courts will reduce from an average of 15 years to an average of 3 years by 2012 after the National Mission gives effect to its strategies to fully implement the Action Plan envisaged in the Vision Statement.

Please read Law Minister's Vision Statement- larger judiciary, work till midnight, case not to exceed 3 years

Pending Litigations – 2009-10: 3.13 crore cases, 3054 Judges required 

National Litigation Policy – Pendency of cases to meltdown, from 15 to 3 years

The Law Minister also spoke on the Government accepting the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission to provide a grant of Rs.5,000 crore ($1.2 billion) to the States for improving the justice delivery system in the country. The first instalment of Rs.500 crore ($106 million) has already been released to the States. With the help of these grants, the States can, inter-alia, set up morning/evening/shift/special magistrates courts, also organise more Lok Adalats and strengthen alternate dispute resolution mechanism with a view to reducing court pendencies.

Please read: Infrastructure in sub-ordinate courts (All India Judges Association v. Union of India): 14,008 courts need nearly $2 billion for upgrade

The Government has enacted the Gram Nyayalayas Act 2008, which provides for setting up of Gram Nyayalyas at Panchayat level. Over 5000 Gram Nyayalayas are expected to be established across the country. As on July 31 the States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa and Maharashtra, taken together, have notified 144 Gram Nyayalayas out of which 47 have been made operational till date. These Nyayalayas will provide affordable and accessible justice to the common man particularly those in the rural areas, Moily said.