The average annual
disposal of cases in the Supreme Court has increased as compared
to the average annual number of institution of cases. Accordingly,
the average annual number of cases disposed of during the last
three years in the Supreme Court has been 36,260 as against 30,720
average annual institution of cases.
As for the High Courts,
the average annual disposal of cases has improved only in eight
High Courts and the situation in ten High Courts has worsened.
The High Courts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal, established
during November 2000, do not figure as the relevant data from
these High Courts are not available.
The eight High Courts
wherein average annual disposal of cases has improved over the
institution of such cases are: Bombay High Court, Delhi High Court,
Jammu & Kashmir High Court, Karnataka High Court, Kerala High
Court, Madras High Court, Patna High Court and Sikkim High Court.
In the Bombay High Court, the rate of average annual disposal
of cases is 91,022 as against average annual institution of 88,966
cases. In the Delhi High Court, average annual disposal of cases
is 40,244 as against average annual institution of 36,017 cases.
In the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, average annual disposal
of cases is 22,978 as against average annual institution of 14,712
cases. In the Karnataka High Court, average annual disposal of
cases is 99,270 as against average annual institution of 77,478
cases. In the Kerala High Court, average annual disposal of cases
is 70,845 as against average annual institution of 57,565 cases.
In the Madras High Court, average annual disposal of cases is
86,509 as against average annual institution of 76,138 cases.
In the Patna High Court, average annual disposal of cases is 75,214
as against average annual institution of 72,868 cases. In the
Sikkim High Court, average annual disposal of cases is 453 as
against average annual institution of 326 cases.
In the remaining
ten High Courts of Allahabad, Andhra Pradesh, Calcutta, Gauhati,
Gujarat, Himachal
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Orissa, Punjab and Haryana and Sikkim, the rate of average annual
disposal of cases is far less than the average annual institution
of cases.
The backlog of cases
in High Courts is 36.40 lakh as on date. The sanctioned strength
of judges of all the 21 High Courts is 647. The number of vacancies
is about 145.
The disposal of cases
has been calculated on the basis of the formula as worked out
and recommended by Justice V.S. Malimath Committee.
