Report No. 189

(d) Views of the Adviser, Planning Commission - Dismal Allocation

As per the information and data given in an article of Mr. Surendra Nath, Adviser, Planning Commission of India, published in 'The Hindu' dated July 22, 2003, the Centre's plan investment in justice started only in the 8th Five Year Plan (1992-97) in compliance with a Supreme Court direction of 1993-94. During the Eighth Plan, the Centre spent about 110 crores on improving judicial infrastructure, such as constructing court rooms etc. An equal amount was spent by the Sates. In the Ninth Plan, about Rs.385 crores were spent by the Centre, and the States also made a matching contribution. This was 0.071 per cent of the total Centre's Ninth Plan expenditure of Rs.5,41,207 crores. During the Tenth Plan (2002-07), the allocation for justice is Rs.700 crores, which is 0.078 per cent of the total plan outlay of Rs.8,91,183 crores.