(a) whether it is a fact that large number of cases are pending in the Supreme Court due to insufficient number of Judges;
(b) if so, whether any study has been conducted in this regard and if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to increase the strength of Judges of the Supreme Court and also increase their retirement age; and
(d) if so, the details and status thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2954
TO BE ANSWERED ON THURSDAY, 06TH AUGUST, 2015
Pendency of Cases in Supreme Court
2954. SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that large number of cases are pending in the Supreme Court due to insufficient number of Judges;
(b) if so, whether any study has been conducted in this regard and if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to increase the strength of Judges of the Supreme Court and also increase their retirement age; and
(d) if so, the details and status thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)
(a) to (d) : The pendency of cases in Supreme Court has come down from 62,791 matters as on 01.01.2015 to 61,016 matters as on 29.07.2015. The Approved and Working Strength of Judges in Supreme Court is 31 and 28 respectively; and 3 posts of Judges of Supreme Court are vacant as on 01.08.2015. No study has been conducted by the Government in the recent past about pendency of cases in the Supreme Court on account of insufficient number of judges. Further, there is no proposal, at present, to increase the strength of Judges of Supreme Court or to increase their retirement age.