Each Judge Has 15K-20K Matters' : Supreme Court Expresses Concern At Allahabad HC Case Pendency; Stresses On Need To Fill Vacancy
The Supreme Court today disposed of a writ petition filed by 95-year-old petitioner seeking directions for the Allahabad High Court to take up her second Appeal pending since 2013 and decide the matter at the earliest. A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan directed that the order passed in the present writ petition shall be treated as a representation addressed to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court in regards to matters pending for many decades in the High Court and pas
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Feb 3, 2025, 21:50 IST
"In last two months, we have come across many writ petitions filed by the litigants whose proceedings are pending before the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad past more than three decades seeking directions that the matter should be heard expeditiously by the High Court. There is no doubt that the High Court of Allahabad is flooded with litigation. We are informed that each Hon'ble Judge in the High Court has with him or her around 15000 to 20000 matters.
The Supreme Court of India has expressed significant concern over the mounting case backlog in the Allahabad High Court, highlighting that each judge is currently burdened with approximately 15,000 to 20,000 cases. This alarming statistic underscores the pressing need to address judicial vacancies and enhance the efficiency of the legal system.
Current Scenario at Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court, with a sanctioned strength of 160 judges, is presently operating with only 84 judges. This shortfall has led to an overwhelming number of pending cases, some languishing for over three decades. The Supreme Court's observations came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by a 95-year-old petitioner seeking expedited resolution of her second appeal pending since 2013.
Supreme Court's Directives
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan has directed that the order passed in the present writ petition be treated as a representation addressed to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court emphasized the necessity of filling the existing vacancies by recommending suitable candidates based on merit and ability. The registry has been instructed to forward a copy of the writ petition along with the order to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court for appropriate administrative action.
Challenges and Implications
The significant disparity between the sanctioned and actual strength of judges has resulted in an untenable workload, adversely affecting the timely delivery of justice. The Supreme Court noted that the Allahabad High Court is inundated with litigation, leading to prolonged delays that undermine public confidence in the judicial system.
Recent Measures to Address Backlogs
In a related development, the Supreme Court has recently relaxed conditions for the appointment of ad hoc judges in High Courts to tackle the mounting pendency of criminal appeals. The Court suspended the condition imposed in its 2021 judgment, which stipulated that ad hoc appointments could only be made if vacancies exceeded 20% of the sanctioned strength. This move aims to provide immediate relief to overburdened courts by enabling the appointment of retired High Court judges as ad hoc judges.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the critical need for systemic reforms to address judicial vacancies and manage the burgeoning case backlog in the Allahabad High Court. Timely appointments and innovative measures, such as the induction of ad hoc judges, are essential steps toward ensuring the efficient functioning of the judiciary and upholding the principle of timely justice.