More than a million cases are stuck in the Allahabad High Court, one of India’s oldest and most prominent judicial institutions. Once graced by leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and future Supreme Court judges, the court now finds itself at the center of a deepening judicial crisis.

A Court in Limbo

The Allahabad High Court, located in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, is among the most overloaded courts in India. Disputes over property, family issues, and criminal trials often linger for decades, trapping citizens in endless legal uncertainty.

One such litigant is 73-year-old retired government worker Babu Ram Rajput, who has been contesting a property dispute since 1992. He purchased land at an auction, but the previous owner challenged the sale. Over 30 years later, the case remains unresolved.
“I just hope my case is decided while I’m still alive,” he says.

The Numbers Behind the Backlog

The crisis stems from chronic understaffing and procedural delays. The court has a sanctioned strength of 160 judges, but the full roster has never been filled. Each judge faces hundreds of cases daily—sometimes over 1,000—making it impossible to provide meaningful hearings.

Delays in police investigations, routine adjournments, and inadequate infrastructure add to the problem. Lawyers say urgent petitions, like bail or eviction stays, are prioritized, while older cases are continually pushed back. Judges often resort to issuing standard “cut-grass” orders, nudging lower courts or the government to act, instead of delivering final verdicts.

Decades of Delay

In April, the court ruled on a rape and murder case that had been pending for more than 40 years. By then, four of the five convicted men had died. The surviving convict was ordered to surrender, but the court itself admitted regret for not delivering judgment sooner.

The burden has grown so overwhelming that lawyers have petitioned for more judicial appointments, calling the court “paralysed.” In January, the Supreme Court described the situation as “worrisome,” noting that case listings at the Allahabad High Court had become unpredictable and chaotic.

Human Cost of Uncertainty

The delays are particularly harsh on litigants traveling long distances across Uttar Pradesh. Mr Rajput, who lives in Kanpur, must spend four hours on the road to Prayagraj every time his case is listed. Often, he finds the hearing postponed because other matters consume the day.
“I’m over 70. I get only a few days’ notice for hearings, and sometimes my case isn’t even called,” he says.

Calls for Reform

For decades, lawyers have demanded additional benches of the high court to improve access. A government commission recommended a new bench in western Uttar Pradesh as far back as 1985, but the proposal remains unfulfilled. The state government briefly revived the idea this year before abruptly withdrawing support.

Beyond new benches, experts emphasize the urgent need for more judges. Yet, judicial appointments move through a lengthy and opaque process involving both state and central governments, as well as the Chief Justice of India. Names can be rejected at any stage, and last year, only one judge was appointed despite nearly half the posts being vacant.

Some progress has come in 2025, with 40 judges added to the bench, including 24 just last week. But even at full strength, the backlog remains staggering—over 7,000 pending cases per judge.

The Way Forward

Former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Govind Mathur stresses that piecemeal solutions are insufficient. He calls for deeper reforms, including a uniform national policy for case management and disposal, instead of leaving practices to individual judges.

Until such reforms take root, millions of litigants like Babu Ram Rajput will continue to wait—caught in the slow grind of a justice system stretched far beyond its limits.