New Delhi (Agency): Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament, was informed on Friday that there are more than 71,000 cases pending in various high courts in the country for more than 30 years. Additionally, it was noted that over 1.01 lakh cases older than 30 years are still unresolved in lower courts.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal revealed these figures in a written answer. As of July 24 this year, 71,204 cases have been awaiting judgment in high courts for more than three decades. Similarly, in district and subordinate courts, the figure rises to 1,01,837 cases pending for over 30 years.
Previously, on July 20, Meghwal had informed the Upper House of Parliament that the total number of unresolved cases across the country’s courts has crossed the mark of five crores (50 million).
He explained that the total of 5.02 crore pending cases includes cases in the Supreme Court, 25 high courts, and subordinate courts.
Meghwal added, “As per data retrieved from the Integrated Case Management System (ICMIS) by the Supreme Court of India, as on July 1, there are 69,766 cases pending in the Supreme Court. Total number of cases pending in the high courts and the district and subordinate courts as on July 14 are 60,62,953 and 4,41,35,357 respectively, as per information made available on National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).”
On Friday, the Minister told the Lok Sabha that the accumulation of cases in courts is not solely due to a shortage of judges. Various factors contribute to this buildup, including the availability of physical infrastructure and supporting court staff, the complexity of facts involved, the nature of evidence, co-operation of stakeholders (such as the Bar, investigation agencies, witnesses, and litigants), and the proper application of rules and procedures.
