Overview
The Ministry of Law and Justice is focusing on making court premises more women‑friendly. While the primary duty of building court infrastructure lies with State Governments, the Centre supports them through a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) that started in 1993‑94.
Key Developments
- CSS covers five components: Court Hall, residential units for judges, lawyers’ hall, toilet complexes and digital computer rooms.
- Design and approval of women‑friendly court halls are handled by the High Courts and the respective State Governments.
- The Building Infrastructure Committee of each High Court checks designs funded under CSS.
- Guidelines for court halls follow recommendations of the National Courts Management System (NCMS) and practices of the CPWD.
- Minister of State (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal clarified these points in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question on 13 August 2026.
Important Facts
The CSS provides a shared‑cost model where the Centre contributes a fixed percentage of the total project cost, easing the financial burden on states. Since its inception, the scheme has funded the construction or renovation of thousands of court halls, residential quarters, and digital facilities, improving access to justice. Women‑friendly features include separate waiting areas, child‑care rooms, and adequate sanitation facilities.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this scheme helps aspirants answer questions on:
- Judicial administration – the role of central and state governments in court infrastructure.
- Cooperative federalism – how CSS exemplifies financial collaboration between Centre and states.
- Gender‑sensitive governance – measures taken to make public institutions accessible to women, a recurring theme in GS II (Polity) and GS IV (Ethics).
- Policy implementation mechanisms – the involvement of committees like the Building Infrastructure Committee and NCMS.
Way Forward
To further strengthen women‑friendly courts, the following steps are recommended:
- Standardise design guidelines across all states, incorporating universal design principles.
- Increase the Centre’s financial share in CSS to accelerate upgrades in underserved regions.
- Introduce regular monitoring by an independent body to ensure compliance with gender‑sensitivity norms.
- Leverage technology for virtual hearings, reducing the need for physical presence and enhancing safety for women litigants.
These measures will not only improve access to justice but also align with India’s commitment to gender equality and efficient judicial delivery.