CM raises issue of reservation of tribals in Superior Judicial Service

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren raised the issue of negligence presence of the members of the Scheduled Tribes Community in Superior Judicial Services.

Speaking during the inauguration of the New Building of the Jharkhand High Court here he said that the negligible presence of tribal community in the Superior Judicial Service in the state of Jharkhand is a matter of concern. There is no provision of reservation in the appointment process of this service he said adding that since the Judges of the High Court are appointed from this service, the position is the same in the High Court.

Therefore he requested that a provision for a reservation should be made in the appointment process of senior judicial service in this tribal-dominated state. He said that the inauguration of the new building of Jharkhand High Court is being done with the blessings of President Draupadi Murmu which is a moment of pride for crores of people of Jharkhand as well as for me.

Hemant Soren said that the Jharkhand High Court building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 600 crore in this complex spread over about 165 acres. In a tribal-dominated small state, this building and premises is bigger than any High Court building and premises in the country. I hope that the state of Jharkhand where tribals, Dalits, backward and poor people are in the majority this institute will prove to be a milestone in the direction of providing them with simple, accessible, cheap and speedy justice.

He said that last year, on the occasion of Constitution Day on November 26, 2022, the President had expressed her concern over the increasing number of undertrial prisoners lodged in jails across the country. In Jharkhand also, a large number of poor tribals, Dalits, minorities and weaker sections are imprisoned in jails for petty crimes which is a matter of concern and there is a need for serious brainstorming on this.

The Chief Minister said that last year the government had prepared a list of such cases, which were pending for more than 05 years for research. Their number was about 3,600 (three thousand six hundred). Out of these, more than 3,400 (three thousand four hundred) cases have been executed by running a campaign. Now we have prepared a list of cases pending for more than 04 years. Their number is also about 3,200 (three thousand two hundred). Efforts are being made to complete these cases within the next six months and he himself is constantly monitoring this. 

He further pointed that due to a shortage of assistant public prosecutors in the subordinate judiciary, there were problems in execution of cases. Last month alone we have appointed 107 Assistant Public Prosecutors and hoped that this will speed up the disposal of cases. He said that although a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being run by the Government of India for the infrastructure of the subordinate judiciary, but no such scheme is available for the High Courts.

If the cost of the land is included, then an amount of about 1,000 (one thousand) crore rupees has been spent by the state government on this new building of the Jharkhand High Court. The Central Government has no stake in this. From time to time, additional infrastructure is also required in the High Courts, so I would request that the Government of India implement a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the infrastructure of the High Courts as well.