Over 5 crore cases pile up across Indian courts, 80,000 await justice in SC

The Law Minister, Arjun Ram Meghwal, revealed alarming statistics to the Lok Sabha on Friday, stating that there are over five crore pending cases in various courts across the country, with a staggering 80,000 cases awaiting resolution in the Supreme Court alone. According to the minister's written reply, as of December 1, the backlog encompasses a vast array of legal matters, with more than 61 lakh cases at the level of the 25 high courts. The district and subordinate courts carry the major burden, accounting for over 4.46 crore pending cases.

In his statement, Minister Meghwal emphasized that the Indian judiciary's overall sanctioned strength is 26,568 judges. However, there exists a significant gap between sanctioned strength and actual appointments. For instance, while the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength is 34 judges, only 80,000 cases are currently being dealt with.

Similarly, the high courts, with a sanctioned strength of 1,114 judges, grapple with the burden of more than 61 lakh cases. At the district and subordinate court level, where the bulk of the cases are concentrated, the sanctioned strength is 25,420 judges, revealing the monumental challenge faced by the judiciary in managing the overwhelming caseload.