(a) the number of cases pending for disposal in the Supreme Court and each of the High Courtacross the
country as on 31 January, 2013;
(b) the present strength of judges in the Supreme Court and the various High Courts in the country as on
date and the number of vacancies of judges in these courts; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to fill up the vacancies of judges and to expedite the disposal of
pending cases before the courts?
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 142 FOR ANSWER ON
07th MARCH 2013.
The data on pendency of cases is maintained by the Supreme Court and High Courts. As per the
information obtained from website of Supreme Court, 66,569 cases were pending in the Supreme Court as
on 31.01.2013. Out of the 66,569 matters, 21,862 matters are up to one year old and are, thus, not
in arrears.
A Statement showing number of pending cases in High Courts as on 31.3.2012 is at Annex I. This
is based on the information in Court News, published by the Supreme Court.
A Statement showing sanctioned strength, working strength and vacancies of Judges in Supreme
Court and High Courts is at Annex II.
As per the Memorandum of Procedure, initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges of a High
Court rests with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court and for appointment of a Judge in the
Supreme Court, it rests with the Chief Justice of India. The Government is periodically reminding the
Chief Justices of the High Courts to initiate proposals in time for filling up the existing vacancies
as well as the vacancies anticipated in the next six months in the High Courts. The filling up of
vacancies in the High Courts is a continuous consultative process among the Constitutional authorities.
While every effort is made to fill up the existing vacancies expeditiously, vacancies do keep on arising
on account of retirement, resignation or elevation of Judges.
The disposal of pending cases in High Courts and Supreme Court is within the domain of 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 in August 2011. 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 has been pursuing a coordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency
in judicial administration which 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.