Editor,
The recent socio-economic advances and the resultant awareness of legal rights, has given courage to common people to approach courts of law for justice. Also, the new medium to approach courts through Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has again resulted in more cases.
According to media reports, there are more than 3 crore cases pending in different courts of India. Many of these cases are pending for more than ten years. Many cases are pending in Supreme Court, High Courts and District and Subordinate courts in India. It is said that justice delayed is justice denied.
There are many reasons for delay in disposing of cases. One of the reasons is the shortage of judges. The current judge to population ratio is 10 to 1 million. More than half the posts are vacant. There is a conflict between the judiciary and executive regarding the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and various High Courts. Cumbersome legal procedures, frequent adjournments, and delays in evidence submission often elongate the legal process, leading to cases languishing in the system.
Addressing the issue of pending cases in courts requires a multi-faceted approach involving legal, administrative, infrastructural reforms, and the integration of technology. By addressing the root causes and implementing innovative solutions, the judiciary can work towards a more just and expeditious legal system.
V K Kharhujon
Via e-mail
