“Situation Is Extremely Distressing For Any Judge”
Thank you for reading this post, don’t forget to subscribe!
Over 1.20 lakh cases are pending in the Delhi High Court, mainly due to judge shortage worsened by recent transfers and retirements. Justice Kathpalia’s bench called the situation “extremely distressing,” as many appeals remain unheard for years.
As per the latest data from the Delhi High Court, more than 1.20 lakh cases are still pending in different benches. A large number of these cases are related to writ petitions, tax matters, and criminal cases.
Many of these cases have been unresolved for years. A bench of the Delhi High Court has expressed concern regarding the backlog, noting the impact on hearing important cases.
Justice Girish Kathpalia’s bench remarked that the shortage of judges has resulted in numerous cases remaining unheard, and appeals not being resolved in a timely manner. The bench stated that this situation is extremely distressing for any judge.
Also Read: 83,000 Pending Cases| Supreme Court Backlog Approaching Record High
A primary factor contributing to the growing backlog is the continuously declining number of judges in the Delhi High Court.
In April and May, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended transferring two judges, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh and Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court, and Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma to the Calcutta High Court.
Concurrently, two judges Justice Rekha Palli and Justice Dharmesh Sharma retired, reducing the number of serving judges in the High Court to 35, well below the sanctioned strength of 60.
However, on May 26, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended transferring six judges from various High Courts to the Delhi High Court.
It is anticipated that once the Centre approves the Collegium’s recommendations, the number of judges in the Delhi High Court will increase, which should aid in expediting the resolution of pending cases.
Also Read: Allahabad High Court Faces Crisis: 50% Judges’ Seats Vacant, 11.5 Lakh Cases Pending
As per the data released by the High Court on June 16, over 34,700 writ petitions filed by individuals on various matters are still pending. Additionally, more than 34,400 criminal petitions await hearings.
Furthermore, over 30,000 tax-related cases are also unresolved. To address the growing backlog, the Delhi High Court announced in May a comprehensive three-phase action plan.
This plan is expected to significantly assist in resolving the backlog. The announcement aligns with a model plan developed by a Supreme Court committee led by Justice Abhay S. Oka for all High Courts and trial courts.
Also Read: SUPREME COURT | Over 65% (81,274) of Pending Cases Stuck at Admission Stage
Under this initiative, priority will be given to cases pending for 10, 20, or even 30 years. The goal is to resolve cases older than 20 years by June 2026, and those older than 10 years by May 2027.
Breakdown of Pending Cases in Delhi High Court
- Civil Writ Petitions: 34,736
- Civil Cases (excluding tax): 30,439
- Tax Appeals and References: 2,390
- Criminal Cases: 34,488
- Original Side Cases: 17,597
- Company Cases: 765
- Total Cases Pending: 120,415
Most of these pending cases are related to writ petitions and criminal matters.
The situation has become worse recently because some judges were transferred and some retired. But there is hope for improvement, as the Supreme Court Collegium has suggested transferring six judges to the Delhi High Court. Also, the High Court has started a special plan to finish old cases by June 2027.
