58,669 cases pending in SC, 43.55 L cases in HC

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58,669 cases pending in SC, 43.55 L cases in HC

Friday, 19 July 2019 | PNS | Ranchi

A total of 58,669 cases are pending in the Supreme Court as of June 01,2019, while 43.55 lakh cases are pending in various High Courts in the country. Out of the cases pending in the various High Courts, 8.35 lakh cases are pending for more than 10 years and another 8.44 lakh are pending for between 5 and 10 years. Minister of Law and Justice, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad provided the information in Rajya Sabha while replying to questions asked by RS MP Parimal Nathwani.

Minister’s reply says that as per data available on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), out of total cases pending in the various High Courts of the country, 18.75 lakh are civil cases, 12.15 lakh are criminal cases and 12.65 are writ petitions. The data also shows that 26.76 lakh cases are pending in the HCs for less than 5 years, 8.44 lakh cases are pending for more than 5 years but less than 10 years and 8.35 lakh cases are pending for more than 10 years, the Minister said.

As per the reply of the Minister, Arrears Committees have been set up in High Courts to clear cases pending for more than five years. Arrears Committee has been constituted in the Supreme Court to formulate steps to reduce pendency of cases in High Courts and District Courts. At present, 581 such Fast Track Courts are functioning across the country and to fast track criminal cases involving elected MPs / MLAs 12 Special Courts were set up in 11 States.

Nathwani wanted to know about the number of cases, both civil and criminal, pending in Supreme Court of India and various High Courts in the country, the number of cases out of the above which are pending for less than five years for more than five years and less than ten years and for more than ten years and measure been taken by Government to expedite the process of disposal of cases.

The Minister stated that the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms established by the Government has adopted a coordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration through various strategic initiatives, including improving infrastructure for courts, leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for better justice delivery, and filling up of vacant positions of Judges in High Courts and Supreme Court.

He said that Rs 6,986.50 crores have been released since the inception of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary in 1993-94. Out of this, 3,542.20 crores have been released to the States and UTs since April 2014. The number of court halls has increased from 15,818 to 19,101 and number of residential units has increased from 10,211 to 16,777 in the last five years. In addition, 2,879 court halls and 1,886 residential units are under construction. The Central Government has approved continuation of the Scheme beyond the 12th Five Year Plan period i.e. from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020 with an estimated additional outlay of Rs 3,320 crore.

With a view to filling up of vacant positions in Supreme Court, High Courts and District and Subordinate Courts,31 Judges were appointed in Supreme Court, 454 new Judges were appointed and 366 Additional Judges were made permanent in the High Courts in the last five years, said the Minister.

He also said thatsanctioned strength of Judges of High Courts has been increased from 906 to 1079 and Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts from 19,518 to 21,340 and working strength has been increased from 15,115 to 17,757 in the last five years.

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