Wednesday, March 30 2005 18:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Putting to naught Centre's indirect decision to wind up fast track courts (FTCs) across the country by not making any financial grant for them beyond March 31, the Supreme Court, in an interim order, today (Mar 30, 2005) extended the life of 1,734 such courts till April 30.

A Bench comprising Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia took serious view of the non-allocation of any funds by the 12th Finance Commission for continuance of the FTCs, the brainchild of former Law Minister Arun Jaitley.

The 11th Finance Commission had given a grant of Rs 509 crore for setting up of the 1,734 FTCs, which were to continue till March 31, 2005.

When the Bench indicated that it would direct continuance of the FTCs, Solicitor General G E Vahanvati suggested that the matter be left to the Government as making budgetary provisions was its sole prerogative.

A visibly upset Bench said, "The apex Court has been monitoring the functioning of the FTCs as Centre has repeatedly assured it that not only the existing fast track courts would be continued for another five years, but efforts would be made to establish additional FTCs."

When Vahanvati said Law Minister H R Bharadwaj was personally in favour of continuance of FTCs, the Bench said "look at the chaos that would result from the winding up of the FTCs, the cases have to be reheard, the Judges have to be readjusted and a long delay in the adjudication of the cases."

In another writ petition filed by Chennai-based All Medial Journalists Association seeking continuance of the FTCs till the year 2010, the Bench issued notices to the Centre and States and placed the entire matter for hearing before a three-judge Bench.