Appointments of SC, HC judges not to be brought under RTI: Gowda

New Delhi: Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday said the Centre would not bring the appointments of judges of the Supreme Court and high courts under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

He said the revised draft memorandum of procedure to guide appointments of judges to the apex court and the 24 high courts was in its final stage, and it would be sent to the Chief Justice of India soon.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Gowda said the allocation of E-Courts Phase-II Project in the budget has been increased from Rs. 227 crores to Rs. 286 crores in 2016-17.

The minister said pendency in the apex court has declined from 66,692 cases at the end of the year 2012 to 59,468 as on February 19.

Gowda said the pendency in high courts has also declined from around 44 lakh cases at the end of 2012 to 38 lakh as on September last, while the pendency in district and sub-ordinate court cases has declined from 2.68 crore at the end of year 2012 to 2.64 crore at the end of 2014. (ANI)