Why in news?
India’s courts are facing a backlog of more than five crore cases. With a large number of judge vacancies and slow disposal of civil suits, the issue has become a matter of public discussion. The government and the judiciary have announced several initiatives to reduce pendency and improve access to justice.
Background and scale of the problem
The Indian judicial system is structured in three tiers—district courts, high courts and the Supreme Court. Pending cases have grown steadily over the past decade. As of mid‑2025 around 4.6 crore cases were awaiting disposal in district courts, 63 lakh cases in high courts and nearly 87,000 cases in the Supreme Court. India has only about 15 judges for every ten lakh people and more than 5,600 posts are vacant. While criminal cases are often disposed of relatively quickly, civil suits frequently drag on for years.
Reasons for delay
- Judge vacancies: Delays in filling sanctioned positions lead to heavier caseloads per judge and slower hearings.
- Uneven disposal patterns: Civil cases, especially property and commercial disputes, take longer because there are no strict timelines for recording evidence and delivering judgements.
- Infrastructure gaps: Many courts lack adequate halls, digital facilities and support staff, making it hard to manage cases efficiently.
- Limited use of alternate systems: Mediation, arbitration and conciliation are underused, increasing dependence on formal courts.
Recent initiatives
- e‑Courts Mission: An ongoing project to computerise case records, allow e‑filing and virtual hearings and use artificial intelligence for case management. The third phase has a budget of around ₹7,000 crore.
- Judicial Infrastructure Scheme: Central funding is being provided to build court halls, residential quarters and digital infrastructure across states.
- Appointments and fast‑track courts: The government has increased the sanctioned strength of judges and set up 866 fast‑track courts and over 750 special courts for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
- Alternate dispute resolution (ADR): Lok Adalats and mediation have resolved crores of cases out of court. The Mediation Act 2023 and amendments to arbitration laws encourage early settlement.
- Tele‑Law and pro bono services: Legal advice is being delivered through video conferencing to rural citizens, and a network of pro bono lawyers provides free representation to those who cannot afford counsel.
What still needs to be done
- Expanding judicial capacity: States must fill existing vacancies and increase sanctioned posts to match population growth. Court managers and support staff should be recruited to assist judges.
- Digital delivery of justice: Uniform adoption of e‑filing, video hearings and AI‑based tools can shorten timelines and reduce the need for physical presence.
- Strengthening ADR: Making mediation compulsory for certain categories of disputes and training mediators will ease the burden on courts.
- Specialised benches: Dedicated benches for commercial, environment and tax cases can ensure expertise and quicker decisions.
- Accessible legal aid: Tele‑law services, legal literacy programmes and pro bono networks must reach rural and marginalised communities so that justice is not delayed by lack of awareness.
Clearing the backlog will require sustained investment, cooperation between the centre and states and a change in courtroom culture to prioritise speed without compromising fairness. Timely and affordable justice is essential for the rule of law and public trust.