The Supreme Court has constituted a high‑powered Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee, headed by Justice Aravind Kumar, to prepare a nationwide roadmap for modernising court infrastructure and to seek central funding estimated between ₹40,000 crore and ₹50,000 crore for the overhaul.
Committee mandate and membership
The panel—named the Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee—will examine seven key areas including court complex standards, facilities for judges and litigants, staff working conditions, technology for faster case disposal, computerisation and citizen‑centric services aimed at bridging the digital divide. Alongside Justice Aravind Kumar, the committee includes Supreme Court and high‑court judges such as Justices Debangsu Basak, Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Somasekhar Sundaresan, the Director General of CPWD and the Secretary‑General of the Supreme Court as members.
Funding target and timeline
The committee has been tasked to estimate infrastructure needs and present a detailed funding proposal to Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, with the target funding request set at roughly ₹40,000–50,000 crore to be pursued with the government. It has been asked to submit its interim findings and requirements by August 31, 2026, to enable timely budgetary consideration and planning.
Why the overhaul is needed
The panel responds to long‑standing concerns about inadequate and uneven infrastructure across district and high courts—shortages of courtrooms, poor facilities for litigants and lawyers, limited IT capacity, and substandard working conditions for judicial officers and staff—that contribute to delays and hamper access to justice. By mapping needs nationally and proposing standards, the committee aims to reduce systemic bottlenecks and support quicker case disposal through physical upgrades and technology adoption.
Expected outcomes and next steps
The committee will produce a comprehensive blueprint covering modern court complexes, tribunal infrastructure, e‑court expansion, and recommendations for staff housing, security, and visitor facilities, plus costed phasing for implementation. Its recommendations will form the basis for negotiations with the Centre on dedicated budget allocations and should guide a multi‑year programme to bring India’s judicial infrastructure in line with contemporary needs.
