The Law Ministry has taken steps to improve infrastructure, appoint more judges and reduce pendency. but a lot more needs to be done
Justice delayed is justice denied, it is often said. In India, the courts, crippled by a paucity of manpower and poor infrastructure, often move at a snail’s pace. There are over 41 million cases pending in lower courts, of which 76 per cent are pending for more than a year. Of the nearly 60 lakh cases pending in high courts, 85 per cent are more than a year old. Not surprisingly, when judges have to work in extreme conditions – only 27 percent of courtrooms have computers on stage for judges for video conferencing; 26 per cent court complexes do not have separate toilets for women and only 32 per cent court rooms have separate record rooms.
cover story , challenges ahead
Led by the energetic and young Kiren Rijiju, the Law Ministry has taken initiatives to reduce pendency, such as augmenting digital infrastructure and expanding the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Infrastructure Upgradation. Initiatives such as the tele-law service—a pre-litigation mechanism providing online dispute resolution advice at the panchayat level—are also important. But the old issues like delay in judicial appointments, slow pace of reforms, conflict between the judiciary and the executive remain. Both the Chief Justice of India and Rijiju have spoken of making justice inclusive, cheap and fast.
