(a) the number of High Courts in the country;
(b) the number of pending cases, High Court-wise;
(c) whether the Government propose to increase the High Court Benches;
(d) if so, the details of the location identified for the purpose in each State; and
(e) the time by which these are likely to be set up?
THE MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE AND MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI ARUN JAITLEY):
(a) At present there are 21 High Courts in the Country.
(b) The number of pending cases High Court-wise is given in the enclosed Statement.
(c) to (e) The setting up of a Bench of a High Court away from its principal seat is
considered on the receipt of a complete proposal from the concerned State
Government with the consent of the Chief Justice of that High Court.
The Government has received complete proposals for setting up Benches of the Madras High
Court and the Calcutta High Court respectively. Accordingly, it is proposed to establish
a Bench of the Madras High Court at Madurai and a Bench of the Calcutta High Court at
Jalpaiguri, after infrastructural facilities like court buildings, accommodation for
Judges etc. are provided by the respective State Governments to the satisfaction of the
High Court. Since the proposals involve Parliamentary legislation, it is not feasible
to indicate a time frame in this regard.