Lok Sabha Question No. 908 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Pending Cases in Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Anil Yeshwant Desai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 908 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 07 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## PENDING CASES IN COURTS

## 908.  SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government has taken any steps particularly to fill the vacant posts of judicial officers and staff in courts in order to reduce huge pendency of cases and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(b) whether Supreme Court and High Courts have also taken cognizance of such pendency and taken any remedial steps like reduction of holidays, increase of working hours, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a): As  per  the  Department's  MIS  Portal,  there  are  5292  vacancies  of  Judicial Officers in the District and Subordinate Courts of the Country as on 03.02.2025.

Filling  up  of  vacant  positions  in  the  case  of  District  and  Subordinate  courts  is  the responsibility  of  the  High  Courts  and  State  Governments  concerned.  As  per  the Constitutional framework, in exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309  read  with  Articles  233  and  234  of  the  Constitution,  the  respective  State Government  in  consultation  with  the  High  Court  frames  the  rules  and  regulations regarding the appointment and recruitment of Judicial Officers in the respective State Judicial Service. The Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order passed in January 2007 in

the Malik Mazhar Sultan case, has inter-alia, stipulated certain timelines, which are to be followed by the States and the respective High Courts for recruitment of judges in District  and  Subordinate  Courts.  A  statement  showing  sanctioned  strength  and vacancies over the last five years in district and subordinate courts, State-wise is at Annexure-I .

(b): The Law Commission in its 230 th  Report on 'Reforms in the Judiciary - Some Suggestions'  had inter-alia suggested  that  considering  the  staggering  arrears,  the vacations in the higher judiciary must be curtailed by at least 10 to 15 days and the court working hours be extended by at least half an hour. The Report was forwarded to the Chief Justices of all High Courts to consider the suggestions for adoption.

As per the Supreme Court (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024, which amended the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, 'The length of the partial Court working days and the number of holidays for the Court and the offices of the Court shall be such as may be fixed by the Chief Justice and notified in the Official Gazette so as not to exceed ninety-five days excluding Sundays.'

Working  days  in  the  High  Courts  are  regulated  by  the  rules  framed  by  the respective  High  Courts.  The  working  days  as  well  as  working  hours  of  the district/subordinate courts are also regulated by the respective high courts.

********

## Annexure-I

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 908 FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2025 REGARDING 'PENDING CASES IN COURTS'.

| Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   | Sanctioned Strength and Vacancies of Judicial Officers in District and Subordinate Courts for last five years   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl.                                                                                                             | State/UTs                                                                                                       | As on 31.12.2020                                                                                                | As on 31.12.2020                                                                                                | As on 31.12.2021                                                                                                | As on 31.12.2021                                                                                                | As on 31.12.2022                                                                                                | As on 31.12.2022                                                                                                | As on 31.12.2023                                                                                                | As on 31.12.2023                                                                                                | As on 13.12.2024                                                                                                | As on 13.12.2024                                                                                                | As on 03.02.2025                                                                                                | As on 03.02.2025                                                                                                |
| No                                                                                                              | State/UTs                                                                                                       | Sanctioned Strength                                                                                             | Vacancies                                                                                                       | Sanctioned Strength                                                                                             | Vacancies                                                                                                       | Sanctioned Strength                                                                                             | Vacancies                                                                                                       | Sanctioned Strength                                                                                             | Vacancies                                                                                                       | Sanctioned Strength                                                                                             | Vacancies                                                                                                       | Sanctioned Strength                                                                                             | Vacancies                                                                                                       |
| 1                                                                                                               | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                  | 607                                                                                                             | 97                                                                                                              | 607                                                                                                             | 116                                                                                                             | 607                                                                                                             | 73                                                                                                              | 618                                                                                                             | 83                                                                                                              | 623                                                                                                             | 59                                                                                                              | 639                                                                                                             | 75                                                                                                              |
| 2                                                                                                               | Telangana                                                                                                       | 474                                                                                                             | 96                                                                                                              | 474                                                                                                             | 49                                                                                                              | 560                                                                                                             | 150                                                                                                             | 560                                                                                                             | 115                                                                                                             | 560                                                                                                             | 115                                                                                                             | 560                                                                                                             | 115                                                                                                             |
| 3                                                                                                               | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                               | 41                                                                                                              | 9                                                                                                               | 41                                                                                                              | 9                                                                                                               | 41                                                                                                              | 8                                                                                                               | 44                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                              | 44                                                                                                              | 11                                                                                                              | 44                                                                                                              | 11                                                                                                              |
| 4                                                                                                               | Assam                                                                                                           | 466                                                                                                             | 54                                                                                                              | 467                                                                                                             | 31                                                                                                              | 485                                                                                                             | 60                                                                                                              | 485                                                                                                             | 46                                                                                                              | 485                                                                                                             | 24                                                                                                              | 485                                                                                                             | 24                                                                                                              |
| 5                                                                                                               | Bihar                                                                                                           | 1936                                                                                                            | 503                                                                                                             | 1954                                                                                                            | 560                                                                                                             | 2016                                                                                                            | 667                                                                                                             | 2016                                                                                                            | 1550                                                                                                            | 2019                                                                                                            | 483                                                                                                             | 2019                                                                                                            | 483                                                                                                             |
| 6                                                                                                               | Chandigarh                                                                                                      | 30                                                                                                              | 4                                                                                                               | 30                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                               | 30                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                               | 30                                                                                                              | 1                                                                                                               | 30                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                               | 30                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                               |
| 7                                                                                                               | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                    | 480                                                                                                             | 93                                                                                                              | 482                                                                                                             | 73                                                                                                              | 527                                                                                                             | 90                                                                                                              | 562                                                                                                             | 139                                                                                                             | 663                                                                                                             | 198                                                                                                             | 663                                                                                                             | 198                                                                                                             |
| 8                                                                                                               | D & N Haveli and Daman and Diu                                                                                  | 7                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                               | 3                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                               | 7                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                               | 7                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                               | 7                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                               | 7                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                               |
| 9                                                                                                               | Delhi                                                                                                           | 799                                                                                                             | 151                                                                                                             | 884                                                                                                             | 192                                                                                                             | 884                                                                                                             | 203                                                                                                             | 887                                                                                                             | 89                                                                                                              | 897                                                                                                             | 94                                                                                                              | 897                                                                                                             | 94                                                                                                              |
| 10                                                                                                              | Goa                                                                                                             | 50                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                              | 50                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                              | 50                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                              | 50                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                              | 50                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                              | 50                                                                                                              | 10                                                                                                              |
| 11                                                                                                              | Gujarat                                                                                                         | 1521                                                                                                            | 369                                                                                                             | 1523                                                                                                            | 400                                                                                                             | 1582                                                                                                            | 431                                                                                                             | 1720                                                                                                            | 545                                                                                                             | 1720                                                                                                            | 535                                                                                                             | 1720                                                                                                            | 535                                                                                                             |
| 12                                                                                                              | Haryana                                                                                                         | 772                                                                                                             | 279                                                                                                             | 772                                                                                                             | 290                                                                                                             | 772                                                                                                             | 308                                                                                                             | 772                                                                                                             | 208                                                                                                             | 781                                                                                                             | 229                                                                                                             | 781                                                                                                             | 230                                                                                                             |
| 13                                                                                                              | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                | 175                                                                                                             | 14                                                                                                              | 175                                                                                                             | 15                                                                                                              | 179                                                                                                             | 16                                                                                                              | 179                                                                                                             | 21                                                                                                              | 179                                                                                                             | 19                                                                                                              | 179                                                                                                             | 19                                                                                                              |
| 14                                                                                                              | Jammu and Kashmir                                                                                               | 296                                                                                                             | 41                                                                                                              | 300                                                                                                             | 59                                                                                                              | 314                                                                                                             | 91                                                                                                              | 317                                                                                                             | 94                                                                                                              | 322                                                                                                             | 46                                                                                                              | 322                                                                                                             | 43                                                                                                              |
| 15                                                                                                              | Ladakh                                                                                                          | 16                                                                                                              | 8                                                                                                               | 17                                                                                                              | 8                                                                                                               | 17                                                                                                              | 8                                                                                                               | 17                                                                                                              | 7                                                                                                               | 17                                                                                                              | 6                                                                                                               | 17                                                                                                              | 6                                                                                                               |
| 16                                                                                                              | Jharkhand                                                                                                       | 675                                                                                                             | 131                                                                                                             | 675                                                                                                             | 152                                                                                                             | 694                                                                                                             | 186                                                                                                             | 693                                                                                                             | 181                                                                                                             | 705                                                                                                             | 199                                                                                                             | 705                                                                                                             | 199                                                                                                             |
| 17                                                                                                              | Karnataka                                                                                                       | 1357                                                                                                            | 286                                                                                                             | 1363                                                                                                            | 276                                                                                                             | 1365                                                                                                            | 233                                                                                                             | 1375                                                                                                            | 225                                                                                                             | 1375                                                                                                            | 219                                                                                                             | 1375                                                                                                            | 221                                                                                                             |
| 18                                                                                                              | Kerala                                                                                                          | 538                                                                                                             | 68                                                                                                              | 569                                                                                                             | 81                                                                                                              | 595                                                                                                             | 122                                                                                                             | 605                                                                                                             | 91                                                                                                              | 611                                                                                                             | 77                                                                                                              | 612                                                                                                             | 79                                                                                                              |
| 19                                                                                                              | Lakshadweep                                                                                                     | 3                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                               | 3                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                               | 1                                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                               | 4                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                               |

| 20    | Madhya Pradesh   | 2021   | 411   | 2021   | 469   | 2021   | 372   | 2028   | 298   | 2028   | 337   | 2028   | 336   |
|-------|------------------|--------|-------|--------|-------|--------|-------|--------|-------|--------|-------|--------|-------|
| 21    | Maharashtra      | 2190   | 250   | 2190   | 250   | 2190   | 250   | 2190   | 250   | 2190   | 250   | 2190   | 250   |
| 22    | Manipur          | 54     | 18    | 59     | 17    | 59     | 17    | 59     | 10    | 62     | 13    | 62     | 13    |
| 23    | Meghalaya        | 97     | 48    | 97     | 48    | 99     | 48    | 99     | 42    | 99     | 43    | 99     | 42    |
| 24    | Mizoram          | 64     | 21    | 65     | 23    | 74     | 33    | 74     | 33    | 74     | 29    | 74     | 29    |
| 25    | Nagaland         | 33     | 7     | 34     | 10    | 34     | 10    | 34     | 10    | 34     | 10    | 34     | 10    |
| 26    | Odisha           | 950    | 194   | 976    | 191   | 1001   | 234   | 1008   | 205   | 1041   | 200   | 1041   | 200   |
| 27    | Puducherry       | 26     | 15    | 26     | 15    | 28     | 17    | 29     | 19    | 36     | 10    | 36     | 10    |
| 28    | Punjab           | 692    | 99    | 692    | 85    | 797    | 208   | 797    | 212   | 804    | 81    | 804    | 81    |
| 29    | Rajasthan        | 1489   | 197   | 1549   | 275   | 1587   | 331   | 1638   | 296   | 1641   | 328   | 1654   | 342   |
| 30    | Sikkim           | 25     | 5     | 28     | 8     | 30     | 9     | 35     | 12    | 35     | 12    | 35     | 12    |
| 31    | Tamil Nadu       | 1298   | 249   | 1316   | 234   | 1340   | 272   | 1371   | 331   | 1369   | 346   | 1369   | 346   |
| 32    | Tripura          | 120    | 23    | 122    | 25    | 128    | 20    | 128    | 20    | 133    | 24    | 133    | 24    |
| 33    | Uttar Pradesh    | 3634   | 1053  | 3634   | 1092  | 3647   | 1173  | 3696   | 1247  | 3700   | 996   | 3700   | 996   |
| 34    | Uttarakhand      | 297    | 42    | 299    | 28    | 299    | 30    | 298    | 27    | 298    | 28    | 298    | 28    |
| 35    | West Bengal      | 1014   | 83    | 1014   | 83    | 1014   | 83    | 1014   | 83    | 1105   | 230   | 1105   | 230   |
| 36    | A& N Island      |        |       |        |       |        |       |        |       |        |       |        |       |
| Total | Total            | 24247  | 4929  | 24515  | 5175  | 25077  | 5764  | 25439  | 5428  | 25741  | 5262  | 25771  | 5292  |