Delhi's Judicial Bottleneck: Over 15 Lakh Cases Pending

Delhi trial courts face an overwhelming backlog of over 15.8 lakh cases. Major delays stem from counsel unavailability, court stays, and procedural issues, with magisterial cases occupying the majority. The National Judicial Data Grid highlights a need for efficiency and transparency improvements in the judicial performance across Delhi district courts.

Delhi's trial courts are currently grappling with a staggering backlog of over 15.8 lakh pending cases. Primary reasons for these delays include the absence of available counsel, frequent court stays, and various procedural inefficiencies, according to recent data from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).

The NJDG, managed by the Supreme Court's e-Committee, aims to enhance transparency and track judicial performance through real-time data on case pendency and disposal nationwide. Data reveals that magisterial cases form the largest chunk of this backlog, with over 10 lakh cases stalled across Delhi district courts.

Additional pending matters include miscellaneous criminal applications, civil suits, and session cases. Major delay factors include 'counsel not available,' accounting for over 3 lakh stalled cases. The issue highlights the urgent need for procedural reforms to streamline case disposal in Delhi's judicial system.

(With inputs from agencies.)