The Centre will earmark additional funds for setting up additional courts as well fast track courts for trial of offences against women and children. In his closing remarks at the joint conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts in New Delhi this evening, Minister of Law and Justice Ashwani Kumar said 73 fast track courts have been established in the country for the trial of crimes against women since January this year. He added that more fast track courts will be established both for the trial of cases involving heinous crimes as well as for the elderly, women and children.

Later, talking to reporters the minister also stressed on the need for a mechanism for affordable justice for poor and common man. He said 12,600 district and subordinate courts were computerised and made ICT-enabled till the last month under the e-court project. The next phase of the project will begin from 2013-14, the minister added.

Expressing concern over the huge number of pending cases, Chief Justice of India Justice Altamas Kabir said that number of judges in the country will be doubled in a phased manner in the next five years which will help expedite the clearance of backlog. Justice Kabir also emphasised on arbitration, mediation, conciliation, lok adalats for the speedy settlement of cases.