On November 17, the Uttar Pradesh government informed the Supreme Court that it is attempting to replicate the Gujarat model for the state's judicial infrastructure.

Garima Prashad, Additional Advocate General of UP, told a bench of Justices MR Shah and MM Sundresh that a team of government officials visited court complexes in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and other cities and were impressed by the infrastructure facilities.

The bench was deliberating on a case in which it had taken up the issue of judicial infrastructure and case backlogs in the state of Uttar Pradesh. While hearing a civil appeal, the bench raised this issue after noting the state's massive backlog of commercial and arbitration disputes. The bench had previously directed that meetings between the state government and the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court be held to discuss the issues.

During today's hearing, AAG Garima Prashad assured the bench that the state places a high priority on improving judicial infrastructure and working conditions for judicial officers and staff. She informed the bench that the state government is preparing a pilot project to improve court facilities in ten districts based on input from the officials' team's visit to Gujarat. "The AAG has stated that the State of UP will make every effort to have court infrastructure and facilities similar to the Gujarat model, and for that, initially 10 districts will be given top priority," the Court noted in the order. The AAG assured the bench that any proposal received from the High Court for an increase in the strength of judicial officers or staff or for a grant would be processed and decided as soon as possible. The AAG also stated that all courts at the taluka and district levels will have a common design, and a pilot project in this regard is being planned.

"Have a cordial meeting. Nobody, neither the High Court nor the State Government officers should take it as an ego issue. All are part of the same institution as a whole. Let us get out of the bureaucratic mindset...All of you have to sit together and identify which all court buildings have to be changed. You have to identify the place and do land acquisition. It will take at least 10 years if it goes like this", Justice Shah told the AAG and the HC's counsel during the hearing.

Case Title: M/S Chopra Fabricators and Manufacturers Pvt. Ltd.V.Bharat Pumps and Compressors Ltd. & Anr

Citation: SLP(C) No. 4654/2022