The Hindu : Troops for Iraq: `issue not yet referred to Law Ministry'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Troops for Iraq: `issue not yet referred to Law Ministry'

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 6. The legality of sending Indian troops to Iraq has not yet been considered by the Law Ministry, the Union Minister of State for Law, P.C. Thomas, told a press conference here today.

Troop deployment was only under discussion at the diplomatic levels. To his knowledge, it had not been referred to the Law Ministry.

Mr. Thomas said the order issued by the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) permitting import of rubber under the Advance Licence Scheme was not in tune with the Government policy. He had taken up the matter with the Union Minister for Commerce, Arun Jaitley. He said the Commerce Ministry had earlier cancelled the licences. However, the Supreme Court had invalidated the order on technical grounds. The action of the DGFT was based on the court directive. However, the order would lead to import of rubber without duty, harming the interests of rubber cultivators. Mr. Jaitley, who is in Madhya Pradesh, had told him over phone that the Government had no plans to allow imports and he would look into the matter on his return to Delhi.

The Minister said the Centre was contemplating several reforms in the legal system on the basis of the recommendations of the Law Commission. The Judicial Reforms Bill, proposing changes in the manner of appointment and transfer of judges, was now before Parliament.

Mr. Thomas said the Centre was aiding the establishment of 1,773 fast track sessions courts across the country to speed up cases on the basis of a Supreme Court directive. It had plans for sanctioning fast track magistrate courts too.

Kerala had been allocated 38 fast track courts and given about Rs. 5 crores for the same. However, the State had so far set up only 27 courts and nearly the entire amount had been spent. It was felt that the State would not need 11 more courts. However, he had pointed out at a recent meeting with representatives of the Government and the High Court that civil cases too could be transferred to the fast track courts. Besides, excess funds spent on the first 27 courts would have to be refunded. The High Court had evinced interest in setting up additional courts if the civil cases too could be transferred. Better coordination between the State Government, the High Court and the Centre was needed if the State was to get more assistance, he added. Public prosecutors had not been appointed for seven fast track courts, defeating the very purpose of such courts.

Mr. Thomas said the Centre was willing to sanction new family courts to Kerala, provided the State made a request. Now, five districts in the State do not have family courts. This could be sanctioned besides additional courts in districts such as Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam where the number of cases was higher, he said.

The Centre provided Rs. 10 lakhs for building and Rs. 5 lakhs a year for meeting recurring expenses. The State might have to spend up to Rs. 10 lakhs additionally on buildings and the lack of funds was being cited as one of the reasons for the State not going in for establishment of the courts. However, Rs. 50 lakhs was something that the State could afford.

The real culprits behind the Marad massacre on the Kozhikode coast should be apprehended and the crime should not be blamed on proxies and communities. A CBI inquiry would help as inter-State links between extremist elements were involved and such a probe would be more credible.

On the incarceration of the PDP leader, Abdul Nasir Maudany, the Minister said the Government felt that cases should be disposed of as early as possible so that under-trials would not have to remain in prison for long.

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