Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said his Government was committed to provide adequate funds for the modernisation of lower courts.

"The Government is bound to provide adequate funds for the modernisation of courts, from district to taluka level. We have taken firm steps in this regard," he said.

Chavan was speaking as a chief guest at the concluding function of golden jubilee convention of Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa at Kalidas Kala Mandir here.

Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily, Supreme Court Judge V S Shirpurkar, Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, Bombay High Court Judge Ranjana Desai and State Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, among others, were present on the occasion.

Chavan said judiciary was one of the pillars of democracy and assured all possible help from the government for its smooth functioning.

The Government will provide laptops, broadband connectivity and e-filing facilities to the courts working at taluka level, the Chief Minister said.

Moily said the Centre is setting up evening courts and encouraging lok adalat and rural courts in its bid to clear the backlog of pending cases.