CJI forms panel to prepare roadmap for judicial infrastructure

Context for the panel's work is the Union Budget 2026-27 for the judiciary. The Ministry of Law and Justice has been allocated ₹4,509.06 crore for 2026-27, nearly ₹400 crore lower than the previous year’s ₹4,998.24 crore. The revised estimate for 2025-26 stood at ₹5,189 crore. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary has fallen to ₹810 crore in 2026-27 from ₹998 crore in 2025-26 (the lowest since 2022-23). Funding for the e-Courts Phase III project remains at ₹1,200 crore. The judiciary’s budget accounts for about 0.08% of the total Union Budget, with the Centre contributing around 8% and states bearing about 90-92% of expenditure.

The Supreme Court announced the constitution of a panel to prepare a nationwide infrastructural roadmap for the Indian judiciary, chaired by Justice Aravind Kumar. Members include Justice Debangsu Basak (Calcutta High Court) and Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra (Punjab & Haryana High Court), with Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan (Bombay High Court) as a member. The Director General of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and Supreme Court secretary general Bharat Parashar will function as member secretary. The committee’s mandate covers physical infrastructure, computerisation of courts, citizen-centric services, and improved working conditions for judges and staff. It will identify constraints faced by stakeholders and seek governmental support and adequate financial allocation. The report will be submitted to the CJI, who will take up the matter with the Union government and state governments. The panel has been asked to submit an interim report by August 31, 2026.