No government wants strong judiciary: SC

"No government wants strong judiciary," was how the Supreme Court today expressed its exasperation over the low budgetary allocation to the judiciary.

"No government wants strong judiciary," was how the Supreme Court on Friday expressed its exasperation over the low budgetary allocation to the judiciary.

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A bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly said less than one % of the budget is alloted to the judiciary which is facing a huge infrastructural problem and shortage of manpower.

"No government wants strong judiciary. It is only on the paper. Look at the budgetary allocation. It is less than one %," the bench remarked while pointing out that the judiciary is overloaded and a large number of courts need to be set up across the country for speedy justice delivery.

Pointing out the infrastructural problem and growing vacancies in the judiciary, the court said "it is a very very difficult situation. If by chance the government does it (setting up more courts), then we have difficulty in getting competent people."

The court's remarks came while hearing a petition filed by former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on phone-tapping case. It expressed its displeasure over the tardy of progress in the trial of the case.