LI Network
Published on: October 21, 2023 at 09:33 IST
In a noteworthy development, the Supreme Court of India has expressed grave concerns regarding the inordinate delay in the adjudication of legal cases within the country. This concern has prompted the apex court to issue a comprehensive set of directives aimed at expediting the disposal of pending cases.
The bench, presided over by Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Aravind Kumar, has taken a strong stance on this issue. It has issued a total of eleven directives to the High Courts, with the primary objective of streamlining and accelerating the judicial process, particularly for cases that have been pending for an extended period, often exceeding five years.
The Supreme Court’s proactive stance on this matter was apparent during a judgment in a civil appeal, where the bench voiced its deep disquiet over a litigation process initiated in the trial court in 1982 that has stretched out for an astonishing 43 years.
The bench cited nationwide statistics on pending cases from the National Judicial Data Grid, emphasizing the urgent need for collaborative efforts from both legal practitioners and the judiciary to address this pressing issue.
The judgment underscored the crucial point that persistent delays in the legal system can seriously erode litigants’ trust and confidence.
Justice Aravind Kumar, while reading out the operative part of the judgment, pointed out that “Litigants may become disillusioned when the legal process moves at a snail’s pace.”
He further highlighted the distressing fact that cases pending for half a century or more, as per the National Judicial Data Grid, have added to the concerns. Some of the oldest pending cases are concentrated in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, with durations extending over 65 years.
Justice Kumar also stressed the responsibility of litigants in managing case adjournments, cautioning them against perceiving leniency in the presiding officers as a weakness.
The judgment announced the issuance of a total of eleven directions, the details of which are expected to become available upon uploading the full judgment.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court has taken a proactive approach to ensure the implementation of these directives. It has instructed the Chief Justices of the High Courts to establish committees tasked with monitoring case pendency.
These committees are expected to convene at least once every two months and focus on tracking older cases, especially those that have remained unresolved for more than five years. To ensure widespread dissemination of these directives, the Secretary General of the Supreme Court has been directed to circulate the judgment to all High Courts.
The Supreme Court’s actions underscore its commitment to address the long-standing issue of case delays and its recognition of the importance of a swift and efficient justice system in maintaining the faith of litigants in the Indian judiciary. These directives are expected to bring about significant reforms, providing hope for a more expeditious resolution of pending cases.
