MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE AND COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) to (e): The data on pendency of cases is maintained by the Supreme Court and High Courts.
As per the information available, 65,661 cases were pending in the Supreme Court as on
01.12.2013. Details of cases disposed off and pending in the High Courts during the last
three years are given in a Statement at Annexure - I and State-wise details of cases disposed
off and pending in the Subordinate Courts during the last three years are given in Statement
at Annexure - II.
Delay in disposal of cases affects all sections of society. In order to expedite the trial
of court cases, legislative changes have been made in procedural laws which include provisions
for limiting adjournments of court proceedings in criminal and civil matters as contained in
Section 309 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Order XVII of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908.
Further, the Government has set up a National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms
to achieve the twin goals of (i) increasing access to justice by reducing delays and arrears;
and (ii) enhancing accountability through structural changes and by setting performance
standards and improving capacities. The Mission has adopted a coordinated approach for
phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration by providing support
for better court infrastructure including computerization, encouraging increase in the
strength of subordinate judiciary, recommending policy and legislative measures in the areas
prone to excessive litigation and suggesting re-engineering of court procedures for quick
disposal of cases.
The Chief Justice of India, after consulting
