he Centre today removed the time-limit of three years for appointment on compassionate ground of a dependent of a government servant who has died during service or retired on medical grounds. An official Memorandum issued today said that the decision to withdraw the time limit was taken after consultation with Ministry of Law and Justice, the Department of Personnel and Training.

It said while considering such requests it was, however, to be kept in view that the concept of such appointment is largely related to the need for immediate assistance to the family of the government servant in order to relieve it from economic distress.

The Government has asked the judiciary to undertake another drive to reduce pending cases before them. In a communication sent to the Chief Justices of High Courts, the Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid suggested that the target during their drive between July to December this year, should be on the disposal of all cases which are over five years old. Mr Khurshid has urged the Chief Justices that focus on disposal of cases of the marginalised sections of the society and under-trials should continue as before. He has also pointed out that substantial funds are available at the disposal of the state governments out of the grants sanctioned under the 13th Finance Commission. He said, these can be utilised for creation of special courts and Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centres for achieving the reduction in pendency. According to an official release, Mr Khurshid is scheduled to formally launch this year's drive from Karnataka High Court tomorrow followed by another drive from Bombay High Court.

AIR Correspondent reports that Mr Khurshid's communication to the High Court was in response to the success of the first pendency reduction drive undertaken between July and December last year. There has been a net reduction of six lakh cases in sub-ordinate courts at the end of 2011, reversing the earlier trend of increase in pendency by about five lakh cases from the end of 2009 to the end of 2010. More importantly, there is a significant reduction of nearly one and a half lakh pending cases relating to senior citizens, minors, disabled and marginalised sections of the society, who are more vulnerable in case of a prolonged litigation.

He will be leading a delegation to attend the Joint Celebrations by India and Bangladesh of the 90th Anniversary of the publication of the landmark poem “Bidrohi” by Bangladesh's National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The two day joint celebration programme will be inaugurated in Dhaka tomorrow by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in which Mr. Salman Khurshid will be the Guest of Honour.

Government has been in touch with the Forum of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on their promotional aspects in the service following the recent Supreme Court judgement. This was stated by Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid, while intervening in a Short Duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the issue.

Initiating the discussion on the subject Satish Chandra Mishra of the BSP underlined the need for amending relevant Articles of the Constitution to achieve the objective. He also drew attention of the House to such cases in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Several members, who participated in the discussion, also called for a comprehensive legislation on the reservation policy, constitution of a National Judicial Commission and an all-party meeting to work out a strategy.