The Supreme Court is falling short of disposing of around 10,000 cases every year as fresh filings continue to rise, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
He revealed that the CJI had pointed out that the increasing number of fresh cases required more judges to be available for regular hearings.
The problem becomes more acute when larger Constitution Benches are formed, since judges assigned to such benches are taken away from regular hearings, he added.
“When Constitution Benches are constituted, it diverts judges away from regular hearings,” Meghwal said.
When several judges are engaged on such benches, fewer judges remain available to hear regular cases, including criminal appeals and matters concerning undertrial prisoners, he explained.
The Supreme Court is falling short of disposing of around 10,000 cases every year as fresh filings continue to rise, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Meghwal said that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) had flagged the growing caseload in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 11, while seeking an increase in the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court.
He revealed that the CJI had pointed out that the increasing number of fresh cases required more judges to be available for regular hearings. The problem becomes more acute when larger Constitution Benches are formed, since judges assigned to such benches are taken away from regular hearings, he added.
“When Constitution Benches are constituted, it diverts judges away from regular hearings,” Meghwal said.
He cited the Sabarimala case, which required a nine-judge Bench, as an example. When several judges are engaged on such benches, fewer judges remain available to hear regular cases, including criminal appeals and matters concerning undertrial prisoners, he explained.
