Pending cases

By Vijay Kumar

As per available information as on December 31, 2006 there are 39,91,251 cases pending in High Courts and 2,63,92,004 cases pending in the lower courts. A Scheme for Computerization of District and Subordinate Courts, prepared in accordance with the National Policy and Action Plan has been approved by the Government on February 8, 2007. The salient features of the Action Plan cover application and implementation of Information and Communication Technology in the Judicial System in a phased manner involving computerization of all district and subordinate courts in the country and up gradation of facilities of the superior courts and electronic networking of the lowest court with the highest court. Government has already computerized the city courts in the four Metropolitan cities and State capitals or in cities where the principal seat of the High Court is located.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Law & Justice, Shri K. Venkatapathy in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

There are about 40 Lakh cases pending in the High Courts. Assuming they are able to clear 4000 cases a day, it will take about 1,000 days that is more than three years to clear the existing cases and by the time they do so/ fresh cases will accumulate.

Is there any hope?