Crisis in the Courtroom: A Million Cases and Counting
The Allahabad High Court, one of India's oldest and most prestigious judicial institutions, is currently buckling under the weight of an unprecedented backlog of over one million pending cases. This staggering figure has positioned the court as one of the most overburdened in the nation, reflecting a broader crisis within India's judicial system. Reports indicate that this backlog includes a mix of civil and criminal cases, some dating back decades, leaving countless individuals awaiting justice.
The court's struggle is compounded by systemic issues such as understaffing and procedural delays. With a sanctioned strength of 160 judges, the court has never operated at full capacity, often leaving each judge to handle hundreds of cases daily. In many instances, judges have less than a minute per case due to limited working hours, resulting in numerous matters being adjourned or left unheard.
Systemic Challenges Fueling the Backlog
Several factors contribute to the overwhelming backlog at the Allahabad High Court. Delays in police investigations, frequent adjournments requested by lawyers, and inadequate infrastructure all play significant roles in stalling progress. Senior lawyer Syed Farman Naqvi has noted that urgent matters, such as bail pleas or eviction stays, often take precedence, pushing older cases further down the priority list. 'Courts often issue interim or temporary orders in urgent cases, but this delays the resolution of long-pending matters,' Naqvi explained.
Additionally, the sheer volume of cases—sometimes over 1,000 per judge per day—creates an impossible workload. This bottleneck not only affects the efficiency of the court but also undermines public trust in the judicial process. The recent appointment of 24 new judges, bringing the working strength to 107, offers a glimmer of hope, but experts argue that much more is needed to address the crisis effectively.
Path Forward: Reforms and Relief Efforts
Efforts to alleviate the burden on the Allahabad High Court are underway, but the scale of the problem demands comprehensive reforms. The addition of new judges is a step in the right direction, aimed at speeding up case disposal and enhancing diversity on the bench. However, filling judicial vacancies alone cannot solve the deeper structural issues plaguing India's judiciary, including outdated processes and insufficient resources.
Legal experts and activists have called for systemic changes, such as streamlining case management, improving infrastructure, and leveraging technology to expedite hearings. While the backlog at Allahabad High Court mirrors a national issue—with over 50 million cases pending across India—the focus remains on finding actionable solutions to restore timely access to justice for millions of citizens.