Sonia gone, uneasy NAC shelves its latest agenda: sweeping judicial reforms

“In the wake of the recent acquittal in the Jessica Lall case and delay in the Priyadarshini Mattoo case, there is a sense of urgency now. The proposals on judicial reforms were expected to be discussed today, now there is uncertainty,’’ an NAC member told The Sunday Express.

Among the key proposals that the NAC has now put on the backburner:

• All India Judicial Service to attract ‘‘the best of talent’’ for judicial duties and to increase the number of judges. Right now, there are an average of 13.5 judges for 10 lakh people in India, the figure in the US is 135-150.

• Increasing the number of local courts so that there is at least one trial court for 50,000 people and ensuring verdict within 90 days. At present, 20 million cases are pending at this level.

• Checking perjury, using more judicial officers to record confessions.

In fact, a concept paper on the Bill was presented by NAC member Jayaprakash Narayan (national coordinator for Hyderabad-based NGO Loksatta) as early as June last year and the NAC was in touch with the Government on this as recently as December 7, 2005.

Besides judicial reforms, on the NAC’s agenda for today’s meeting was a review of programmes in the North-East and the textile, handloom & handicraft sector, said member Jairam Ramesh. Also on the agenda was a presentation by N C Saxena, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and who monitors food-based programmes on behalf of the Supreme Court, on poverty alleviation.

With Sonia gone, there is a sense of unease among the members. It was her “clout,” a member said, that made the NAC a “crucial cog” in the governance wheel. “Without the clout, it would become just another body churning out ideas.’’

Said member and former Vice Chancellor of Northeastern Hill University Mrinal Miri: “She (Sonia Gandhi) wielded great deal of authority and commanded respect, without her NAC will not be the same.’’

Honorary professor and chairman of Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, C H Hanumantha Rao said: “The council had made a good impact. Sonia’s leadership was crucial for the council.’’ Agreed D Swaminadhan, former member of the Planning Commission. “With Sonia as the chairperson, the council was taken seriously by the government.’’

Who will succeed Sonia at the council? There are no answers yet. Arun Bhatnagar, Secretary to NAC, said there is no acting chairperson, neither a vice-chairperson. Pratham’s director of programmes and NAC member Madhav Chavan said: ‘‘They are still figuring it out. I think the council should continue.’’