Lok Sabha Question No. 4718 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Criminal Cases Pending in Bihar
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Dr. Alok Kumar Suman

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4718 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2026

## CRIMINAL CASES PENDING IN BIHAR

## 4718 DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

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

- (a) the total number of civil and criminal cases pending in Bihar as on date;
- (b) district-wise distribution of such pending cases, including Gopalganj;
- (c) the reasons identified for backlog of cases;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to reduce pendency and expedite trial proceedings; and
- (e) the targets set by the Government for timely disposal of cases in Bihar?

## 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)  &  (b): As  per  information  available  on  the  National  Judicial  Data  Grid  (NJDG),  as  on 16.03.2026, the total number of civil and criminal cases pending in Bihar are as under:

| COURT                                | CIVIL CASES   | CRIMINAL CASES   | TOTAL     |
|--------------------------------------|---------------|------------------|-----------|
| Patna High Court                     | 1,14,879      | 1,03,237         | 2,18,116  |
| District & Subordinate Courts, Bihar | 5,38,494      | 31,72,892        | 37,11,386 |

The district-wise distribution of pending cases in district & subordinate courts, as on 16.03.2026 is at Annexure .

- (c) to (e): Disposal of cases pending in various courts lies within the domain of the judiciary. No fixed time frame has been prescribed for disposal of various kinds of cases by the respective courts. Timely disposal of cases in courts depends on several factors which, inter-alia, include availability

of  adequate  number  of  Judges  and  Judicial  officers,  supporting  court  staff  and  physical infrastructure, complexity of facts involved, nature of evidence, co-operation of stake holders viz bar, investigation agencies, witnesses, litigants and proper application of rules and procedures. However, the Government is fully committed for speedy disposal of cases and reducing pendency as mandated under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Government has taken several initiatives to provide an ecosystem for faster disposal of cases by the judiciary which, inter-alia, involves better infrastructure for courts including computerization, increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and emphasis on human resource development.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (B)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  4718  FOR  ANSWER  ON  20.03.2026  REGARDING  'CRIMINAL  CASES PENDING IN BIHAR'

District-Wise Distribution of Pending Cases in District & Subordinate Courts of Bihar, as on 16.03.2026

|   SI. No. | Name of District   | Civil cases   | Criminal cases   | Total    |
|-----------|--------------------|---------------|------------------|----------|
|         1 | Patna              | 49,040        | 4,18,251         | 4,67,291 |
|         2 | Kaimur at Bhabhua  | 15,356        | 39,634           | 54,990   |
|         3 | Samastipur         | 22,518        | 97,936           | 1,20,454 |
|         4 | Saran at Chapra    | 24,445        | 1,33,039         | 1,57,484 |
|         5 | Katihar            | 10,305        | 68,122           | 78,427   |
|         6 | Begusarai          | 13,081        | 80,214           | 93,295   |
|         7 | Banka              | 6,576         | 52,059           | 58,635   |
|         8 | Purnea             | 8,680         | 73,310           | 81,990   |
|         9 | Motihari           | 22,462        | 1,48,518         | 1,70,980 |
|        10 | Munger             | 7,167         | 49,947           | 57,114   |
|        11 | Madhepura          | 11,335        | 47,133           | 58,468   |
|        12 | Rohtas Sasaram     | 21,973        | 86,621           | 1,08,594 |
|        13 | Khagaria           | 4,456         | 49,208           | 53,664   |
|        14 | Jamui              | 5,697         | 47,895           | 53,592   |
|        15 | Aurangabad         | 9,498         | 59,582           | 69,080   |
|        16 | Darbhanga          | 17,403        | 83,983           | 1,01,386 |
|        17 | Madhubani          | 13,572        | 93,948           | 1,07,520 |
|        18 | Lakhisarai         | 3,360         | 32,500           | 35,860   |
|        19 | Sheikhpura         | 2,097         | 16,659           | 18,756   |
|        20 | Saharsa            | 10,929        | 59,193           | 70,122   |
|        21 | Supaul             | 7,615         | 56,950           | 64,565   |
|        22 | Gopalganj          | 22,631        | 86,901           | 1,09,532 |
|        23 | Araria             | 6,373         | 67,314           | 73,687   |
|        24 | Kishanganj         | 2,427         | 26,063           | 28,490   |
|        25 | Buxar              | 16,346        | 50,668           | 67,014   |
|        26 | Nawada             | 13,084        | 80,519           | 93,603   |
|        27 | Bettiah            | 15,140        | 1,19,235         | 1,34,375 |
|        28 | Siwan              | 21,712        | 93,693           | 1,15,405 |
|        29 | Nalanda            | 12,414        | 1,15,362         | 1,27,776 |
|        30 | Sitamarhi          | 10,856        | 74,093           | 84,949   |
|        31 | Bhojpur            | 21,638        | 89,577           | 1,11,215 |
|        32 | Bhagalpur          | 19,876        | 1,12,037         | 1,31,913 |
|        33 | Gaya               | 25,891        | 1,41,171         | 1,67,062 |
|        34 | Jehanabad          | 7,106         | 44,976           | 52,082   |
|        35 | Sheohar            | 1,710         | 12,594           | 14,304   |
|        36 | Muzaffarpur        | 27,358        | 1,74,468         | 2,01,826 |
|        37 | Vaishali           | 26,367        | 89,519           | 1,15,886 |
|        38 | Arwal #            | NA            | NA               | NA       |

Source: National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)

# Arwal district is a Sub-divisional Court of Jehanabad Judgeship and the data pertaining to Arwal Sub-division of Jehanabad Judgeship reflected in Jehenabad.

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