Over 4.76 crore court cases remain pending across India, including Supreme Court and High Courts, as government informs Parliament. Rising judicial backlog highlights urgent need for reforms, faster disposal, and strengthened infrastructure to ensure timely justice nationwide.
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice has revealed that more than 4.76 crore cases are currently pending across various courts in India, underscoring the scale of judicial backlog confronting the country’s legal system.
Responding to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal presented updated data sourced from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG). As per figures available up to December 31, 2025, a total of 4,76,57,328 cases were pending in district and subordinate courts nationwide.
Supreme Court Pendency Sees Sharp Rise
The data further indicated that the pendency in the Supreme Court of India stood at 92,101 cases as of December 31, 2025. Notably, this marks an 11.40 per cent increase in the number of pending cases over the past three years.
The steady rise in pending matters at the apex court reflects the growing inflow of appeals, constitutional matters, and special leave petitions. Legal experts have frequently highlighted that delays at the highest judicial level have a cascading effect on lower courts, particularly in matters involving constitutional interpretation and policy challenges.
High Courts Report Over 63 Lakh Pending Cases
Across the country’s 25 High Courts, a combined total of 63,66,023 cases were pending as of the same date. This represents a 4.75 per cent rise in pendency over the past three years.
Among them, the Allahabad High Court recorded the highest number of pending cases at 12,07,240. It was followed by the Bombay High Court with 6,64,979 cases and the Rajasthan High Court with 6,87,595 pending matters.
The figures highlight significant regional disparities in judicial workload, often influenced by population density, economic activity, and the volume of litigation in respective states.
District and Subordinate Courts Carry the Heaviest Burden
District and subordinate courts continue to bear the overwhelming share of pending cases. With 4,76,57,328 cases awaiting disposal, these courts account for the vast majority of the national judicial backlog.
Over the past three years, pendency at this level has increased by 5.84 per cent. State-wise data shows that Uttar Pradesh leads with 1,13,45,328 pending cases in district and subordinate courts. It is followed by Maharashtra with 59,26,999 cases and West Bengal with 38,35,113 cases.
The data suggests that states with larger populations and higher commercial activity tend to experience heavier judicial burdens. Legal scholars point out that prolonged delays not only strain litigants financially but also impact public trust in the justice delivery system.
Government Initiatives to Address Judicial Backlog
While emphasizing that the disposal of cases falls within the exclusive domain of the judiciary, the minister reiterated the Centre’s commitment to facilitating faster case resolution. He stated that the government has undertaken several measures aimed at strengthening judicial infrastructure and improving case management.
Among the key initiatives is the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, which seeks to enhance court efficiency and reduce delays. The government has also promoted the use of Lok Adalats and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to ease the burden on conventional courts.
Further reforms include amendments to commercial and criminal laws, expansion of court infrastructure, filling judicial vacancies, and accelerating the implementation of the eCourts project. Computerisation and digital integration under the eCourts initiative are intended to streamline procedures, enhance transparency, and improve case tracking.
The minister underscored that these steps are aligned with the constitutional mandate under Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, interpreted by courts to include the right to speedy justice.
Growing Concern Over Access to Timely Justice
The rising pendency figures have reignited debate over structural challenges facing India’s judicial system. Legal experts frequently cite inadequate judge-to-population ratios, procedural delays, frequent adjournments, and infrastructural constraints as contributing factors.
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As the backlog continues to grow, stakeholders argue that comprehensive reforms, technological innovation, and collaborative efforts between the judiciary and executive are essential to ensure that justice is not only delivered but delivered in a timely manner.
With over 4.76 crore cases pending across all levels of courts, the latest data placed before Parliament serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen India’s justice delivery framework.
