CHENNAI: THE Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam on Tuesday announced a slew of measures to improve the facilities at various courts in the State.
Replying to the discussion in the State Assembly on the demands for grants for his department, the Minister said three more floors would be added to the two-storey court complex at Egmore for `8.69 crore while a new building would be built for the Saidapet Metropolitan Magistrate court for `6.35 crore.
The Minister announced that the building for the integrated court complex at Satankulam with residential quarters for judicial officers would be built for `5.55 crore. For the 15 judges who had been appointed to the Madras High Court in addition to the existing judges, 12 court halls and chambers for judges would be built for `5.37 crore.
Setting up sub-courts at Ulundurpet, Villupuram district (`1.25 crore), Kangeyam, Tirupur district (`84.78 lakh) and Alandur (`83.93 lakh), providing facilities at the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court (`68.42 crore) for implementing regulations on gender sensitisation and on sexual harassment of women were among the other announcements made by the Minister.
Grievances redressal meetings for tribals
Minister for Forests C Sreenivasan on Tuesday informed the State Assembly that Grievances Redressal Camps would be organised in hilly areas to address the issues of tribal communities with the help of Forest Department officials. On a pilot basis, this scheme would be implemented in 372 habitats in 83 villages in Tiruvannamalai district.
The Minister said that since the district headquarters was located far from the people living in forest areas, there had been less awareness about the grievance redress mechanisms available with the government. Lack of communication facilities add to this. “With a view to set right this, the Forest Department will organise Grievances Redressal Day on a specific day every month.” Pointing out the number of palm trees in the State has come down, Sreenivasan said with a view to safeguard the tree, which was State tree of Tamil Nadu, saplings would be planted at a cost of `1,60 crore during the next five years.