New Delhi, After going back to the drawing board on several occasions, the Union Law Ministry on Tuesday finalized a document on the National Litigation Policy, which seeks to speed up resolution of pending cases.
Soon after taking charge as Union Law Minister during the day, Arjun Ram Meghwal signed the National Litigation Policy "document".
The policy document will be placed before the Union Cabinet in the coming days for approval.
Sources said this policy is part of the 100-day agenda of the Modi 3.0 government.
Speaking to reporters soon after assuming charge, Meghwal said the main priority of the ministry would be to provide speedy justice in cases pending in the Supreme Court, High Courts, lower courts, tribunals and consumer courts.A senior official said the issues raised by the minister relating to pending cases have been resolved in the document. “This was the first file he wanted to sign,” the officer said.
The National Litigation Policy has been drafted over many years and its contours have been deliberated upon by successive governments.
"There is a factor of ease in the lives of all stakeholders related to litigation... All stakeholders including litigants, advocates and others are part of it... The ministry has finalized the policy document," Meghwal said.
In UPA II, the then Law Minister M Veerappa Moily came up with a National Litigation Policy but it never took off.Although Moily had come up with the policy, he did not send it to the Union Cabinet for approval.
Later, when the document went to the cabinet, no decision was taken on it.
An official statement issued on June 23, 2010 said that the Center has formulated a National Litigation Policy under the National Legal Mission to reduce the pendency of cases in various courts of India, thereby reducing the average pendency time from 15 years to three years. To be.
According to the 'Vision' of the 2010 policy, it was based on the recognition that the government and its various agencies are the principal litigants in courts and tribunals in the country.
"It aims to transform the government into an efficient and responsible litigant. The policy is also based on the recognition that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the rights of citizens, to respect fundamental rights and those in charge of the conduct of government.Litigation should never forget this basic principle,” it had said.
When the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, the Law Ministry sent a new cabinet note on the policy and it has been pending since then.
"A national litigation policy has been demanded as there were allegations that frivolous cases are filed in courts by the government as officials do not like to take decisions on sensitive issues. The policy is necessary to check cases pending in courts." Former Union Law Secretary PK Malhotra told.
Responding to a question about arbitration, Meghwal said the government is working towards making India an arbitration hub and some laws have been changed to enable the schemes."Why can't disputes be settled here (through arbitration)? Why should Indians go to Singapore, Dubai or London for arbitration," he said.
A national prosecution policy has been part of the BJP's manifesto since 2014.
Soon after taking charge as Union Law Minister during the day, Arjun Ram Meghwal signed the National Litigation Policy "document".
The policy document will be placed before the Union Cabinet in the coming days for approval.
Sources said this policy is part of the 100-day agenda of the Modi 3.0 government.
Speaking to reporters soon after assuming charge, Meghwal said the main priority of the ministry would be to provide speedy justice in cases pending in the Supreme Court, High Courts, lower courts, tribunals and consumer courts.A senior official said the issues raised by the minister relating to pending cases have been resolved in the document. “This was the first file he wanted to sign,” the officer said.
The National Litigation Policy has been drafted over many years and its contours have been deliberated upon by successive governments.
"There is a factor of ease in the lives of all stakeholders related to litigation... All stakeholders including litigants, advocates and others are part of it... The ministry has finalized the policy document," Meghwal said.
In UPA II, the then Law Minister M Veerappa Moily came up with a National Litigation Policy but it never took off.Although Moily had come up with the policy, he did not send it to the Union Cabinet for approval.
Later, when the document went to the cabinet, no decision was taken on it.
An official statement issued on June 23, 2010 said that the Center has formulated a National Litigation Policy under the National Legal Mission to reduce the pendency of cases in various courts of India, thereby reducing the average pendency time from 15 years to three years. To be.
According to the 'Vision' of the 2010 policy, it was based on the recognition that the government and its various agencies are the principal litigants in courts and tribunals in the country.
"It aims to transform the government into an efficient and responsible litigant. The policy is also based on the recognition that it is the responsibility of the government to protect the rights of citizens, to respect fundamental rights and those in charge of the conduct of government.Litigation should never forget this basic principle,” it had said.
When the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, the Law Ministry sent a new cabinet note on the policy and it has been pending since then.
"A national litigation policy has been demanded as there were allegations that frivolous cases are filed in courts by the government as officials do not like to take decisions on sensitive issues. The policy is necessary to check cases pending in courts." Former Union Law Secretary PK Malhotra told.
Responding to a question about arbitration, Meghwal said the government is working towards making India an arbitration hub and some laws have been changed to enable the schemes."Why can't disputes be settled here (through arbitration)? Why should Indians go to Singapore, Dubai or London for arbitration," he said.
A national prosecution policy has been part of the BJP's manifesto since 2014.
