Concerned at rising pendency of old cases, CJI writes to CJ’s of High Courts asking them to ensure disposal of cases pending for over 5 years, without delay

Concerned at rising pendency of cases older than five years in High Courts, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice Mr. H.L. Dattu has written to Chief Justices of all HCs asking them to ensure that such cases are not pending in any court, including the subordinate judiciary under them. 

(Chief Justice of India, H.L. Dattu. Photo courtesy: PTI)

The Times of India, has reported that the Chief Justice of India had written to the Chief Justices of High Courts last month as pendency of old cases had substantially gone up in many of these Courts. 

Pendency of over five-year-old cases has significantly increased in high courts, with 30-40% of such cases in many of them. In the Allahabad high court, country's largest High Court, this pendency is as high as 60%. Interestingly, pendency of such cases in subordinate courts has come down to 4%-6%. 

With subordinate Courts bringing down the pendency of older cases, the focus of the Apex Court is now on the High Courts to clear all cases pending on file for than five years, many of which are cases of heinous crimes against women and children.