SATISH HANDA
Large number of innocents facing trials in the courts in our country since past about 30 years due to delayed justice which according to legal advisors is due to shortage of judges in the courts, complicated legal proceedings causing delay in court decisions and additional pressure on judiciary. According to National Judicial Data Grid information, more than 3,47 crore court cases which include nearly 95.20 lakh civil and over 2.52 crore criminal cases are lying pending under trials in lower courts, more than 44.75 lakh cases are under trials in High Courts and 59,867 cases lying pending in Supreme Court of India in the country.
Information also reveals that in lower courts, nearly 87000 cases are under trial waiting decisions since past over 30 years, nearly 28.23 lakh cases are pending since past 10 years. Data report reveals that 86777 cases including 34114 civil and 53663 criminal cases are pending in different courts since past over 30 years. Similarly 421614 cases including 104937 civil and 316677 criminal are pending in the courts since past between 20-30 years, 2315174 cases including 477500 civil and 1837674 criminal cases are pending in the courts since past 10 to 20 years. 4950475 cases including 1290194 civil and 3660281 criminal cases are pending in courts since past between 5 and 10 years. 4846366 cases including 1379427 civil and 3466939 criminal cases are pending in the courts since past 3 to 5 years. 9304721 cases including 2615677 civil and 6689044 criminal cases are pending since past between one and three years. 12797048 cases including 3618137 civil and 9178911 criminal cases are pending in the courts since past one year in the country.
Information further reveals, more than 5000 posts for the judges are lying vacant in lower courts, 401 posts for the judges are vacant in 25 High Courts in the country and four posts for the judges are vacant in Supreme Court of India as such hearings in the cases remain hanging in courts files for a long time. Maximum number of 63 posts for the judges are lying vacant in Allahabad High Court, 35 posts lying vacant in Calcutta High Court, 31 posts lying vacant in Punjab and Haryana High Court, 30 posts lying vacant in Patna High Court, 28 posts lying vacant in Mumbai High Court, 25 posts vacant in Rajasthan High Court, 22 posts vacant in Madhya Pradesh High Court, and 16 posts vacant in Andhra Pradesh High Court.
