A total of 2.68 crore cases were pending in district and subordinate courts in the country and 44.56 lakh cases were pending in high courts, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said, of the 2.68 crore cases which were pending in lower courts at the end of 2013, 59.80 lakh cases were pending for more than five years.
In high courts, as on December 31, 2013, out of the 44.56 lakh cases, 16.83 lakh cases were pending for more than five years till last year.
As per the information made available, 11,861 cases were pending for more than five years as on December 10, 2014 in the Supreme Court, he said in reply to a written question.
A total of 1,321 bail applications are pending in the Supreme Court for the last three years as on December 15, 2014, he said.
Replying to another question, Gowda said as per information available in Court News, a quarterly newsletter of the Supreme Court, the sanctioned and working strength of judicial officers of district and subordinate courts were 19,518 and 15,115 respectively as on December 31, 2013 and 4,403 posts of judicial officers of district and subordinate courts were vacant as on December 31, 2013.
The sanctioned and working strength of judges of various high courts were 984 and 631 respectively and 353 posts were vacant as on December 15, 2014, he said.
When you have 130 crore people, all be it with minors, the backlog makes a bit of sense. The major drawback is the fact that the dishonest clog the courts seeking judicial sanction for their misdeeds.
It is presumed that the figures also include crime related cases, where, as per information available, a high percentage of acquittals is the norm.
The need of the hour is the immediate application of justice to criminal arrests. Convict them or let them go. The police have a field day in delaying these matters. Inspectors of various hues file frivolous litigation and criminal prosecution when they are not adequately pleased. These should be weeded out and disposed of. Then the statistics will show a realistic picture.
Simply saying that more judges should be appointed is to enhance the problem. The calibre of judges may suffer, thereby burdening the appellate system and lowering the prestige of the judiciary in the eyes of the public.
Bapoo M. Malcolm, Advocate, Bombay High Court.