MYSORE: There will be no amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc), at least for now. Going by the statement of law and justice Veerappa Moily, the lawyers, who were apprehensive of losing powers to police, can heave a sigh of relief.
Moily told reporters on Sunday that the Centre is not in a hurry to push through the amendment. “Before the amendment, we will hold discussions with lawyers, experts and others in the field,” he said.
Referring to the establishment of village courts, Moily said the government passed a bill in this regard last year. Some states have initiated measures to establish grama nyalayas (village courts). “I have summoned a meeting of chief ministers, chief secretaries and law ministers of respective states to discuss various issues relating to judiciary on August 16,” he said.
The government is serious to bring in some form of social engineering in appointment of judges for high courts and Supreme Court, he said.
He said there are not enough judges from OBCs, SC and ST groups in high courts and Supreme Court.
Asked about setting up of evening courts, Moily said the Centre has directed all chief ministers to start evening courts so that pending cases are cleared fast. “The Centre has decided to extend monetary support to the states which come forward to set up village courts and evening courts,” he said.
Moily revealed that the law ministry has suggested the state governments to give more powers to Lok Adalats and treat the cases disposed of by Lok Adalats as final without giving scope for the clients to approach the regular law courts.
