10 Aug 2012

Pending Court Cases

The data on pendency of cases in maintained by the Supreme Court and High Courts. As per the information obtained from website of Supreme Court, 63,342 cases are pending in the Supreme Court as on 31.7.2012. Out of them, 21,208 matters are up to one year old and are not in arrears. If connected matters are excluded, the pendency is only 35,961 cases as on 31.7.2012.Giving this information
in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law & Justice, said that disposal of pending cases in various courts is within the domain of the judiciary. However, with a view to assist judiciary in addressing the problem of pendency of cases, the Government has set up a National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms. 
Shri Khurshid said that the Mission has twin objectives of increasing access by reducing delays and arrears in the system and enhancing accountability through structural changes and by setting performance standards and capacities. The Mission will pursue a coordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration which would. Inter alia, involve better infrastructure for courts including computerisation, increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and emphasis on human resource development. The National Mission has a time frame of five years (2011-16) to pursue them. 
Shri Salman Khurshid further informed the House that in a short span of its existence, the Mission has taken several steps in the strategic areas towards fulfilment of its objectives. A Constitution Amendment Bill for raising the retirement age of High Court Judges is before the Parliament. A comprehensive proposal has been formulated for constitution of All India Judicial Service which is before the Committee of Secretaries. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) has been constituted to suggest necessary amendments to the Negotiable Instruments Act along with other policy and administrative measures to check increasing litigation relating to cheque bounce cases, the Minister informed the House. 

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