80, 000 cases pending in Supreme Court, 196947 cases in Patna High Court, 5150733 cases in Bihar's District, Subordinate Courts

According to National Judicial Data Grid, out of 79787 cases including 2240 writ petitions and 972 contempt petitions pending in Supreme Court, 62793 are civil cases and 16994 are criminal cases. Notably, 

Union Ministry of Law and Justice informed Parliament on December 15, 2023 that 4735 cases are 10 to 20 years old and 14840 cases are 5-10 years old in the Supreme Court. 

In the High Courts, there are 6181977 pending cases, according the National Judicial Data Grid. Out of which 4426938 are civil cases and 1755039 are criminal cases.

There are 32,25,690 cases which are 10 to 20 years old and 68,94,578 cases are 5-10 years old, as per minister's reply. He also informed the parliament that in the district courts of India, there are 32,25,690 cases which are 10 to 20 years old and 68,94,578 cases are 5-10 years old. The National Judicial Data Grid reveals that there are a total of 44190110 cases in District and Taluka Courts of India. Out of which 3637842 cases were filed by women.   

A total of 196947 cases are pending in Patna High Court. Out of which 108091 are civil cases and 88856 are criminal cases. There are 5150733 pending cases in  Bihar's District and Subordinateas of December 12, 2023.

In Patna High Court, a total of 3058 cases are over 30 years old, 5607 are 20 to 30 years old, 26386 are 10 to 20 years old, 48997 are 5 to 10 years old, 27437 are 3 to 5 years old, 32168 are 1 to 3 years old and 53294 are 0 to 1 years old. A total of 16914 cases were filed by women. Out which 11781 were civil cases and 5133 criminal cases. 

Notably, there are 2 reference cases, 40 suits and 167 applications which are pending in the High Court. 

Out of a total of 3058 cases which are over 30 years old, there are 14 criminal cases.    

Particulars	Civil	Criminal	Total
Pending Cases
0 to 1 Years	23794(22.01%)	29500(33.2%)	53294(27.06%)
1 to 3 Years	21757(20.13%)	10411(11.72%)	32168(16.33%)
3 to 5 Years	16772(15.52%)	10665(12%)	27437(13.93%)
5 to 10 Years	32740(30.29%)	16257(18.3%)	48997(24.88%)
10 to 20 Years	7625(7.05%)	18761(21.11%)	26386(13.4%)
20 to 30 Years	2359(2.85%)	3248(2.85%)	5607(2.85%)
Above 30 Years	3044 (2.82%)	14(0.02%)	3058(1.55%)
Total	108091	88856	196947
Case Type Wise
Writ Petition	64191	4028	68219
Second Appeal	7608		7608
First Appeal	5633		5633
Appeal	9464	41592	51056
Case/Petition	19287	39086	58373
Revision	722	3989	4711
Reference		2	2
Suit	40		40
Review	1138		1138
Application	8	159	167
Institution
Cases Instituted in Last Month	2958	10007	12965
Disposal
Cases Disposed in Last Month	2783	9654	12437
Senior Citizen
Filed Cases By Senior Citizen	20960	8164	29124
Woman
Filed Cases By Woman	11781	5133	16914

Patna High Courts must ensure earliest listing of bail applications/ anticipatory bail applications: Supreme Court

In order to safeguard judicial practices which are "detrimental to the liberty of a person", on December 11, 2023, in it order, Supreme Court's Bench of Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sanjay Kumar "held and reiterated that decisions on anticipatory bail applications / bail applications, are concerned with the liberty and therefore, shall be taken up and disposed of, expeditiously. On 21.02.2022 in SLP (Crl) No.1247/2022, a Bench of three Judges of this Court reiterated the same view. Virtually, this Court deprecated the practice of admitting the bail applications and thereafter deferring decisions on it unduly. The case on hand reveals recurrence of such a situation despite the repeated pronouncements of this Court on very issue." 

 

It observed that "We have no hesitation to hold that such an order sans definiteness in the matter relating to anticipatory bail/regular bail, that too after admitting the matter, would definitely delay due consideration of the application and such an eventuality will be detrimental to the liberty of a person. It is taking into account such aspects that this Court held that such matters pertaining to personal liberty shall be taken up and decided at the earliest. It is a matter of concern that despite repeated orders, the same situation continues."

The order reads: "we request the learned Single Judge of the High Court to dispose of the pending anticipatory bail application, pending adjudication before him, on its own merits and in accordance with law, expeditiously and preferably within a period of four weeks from the receipt/ production of this Order. Till such time, we grant interim production from arrest to the petitioner. We also make it clear that the grant of interim protection shall not influence the consideration of the bail application moved by the petitioner and it shall be considered on its own merits. In view of the recurrence of the said situation in different courts, the Registry shall send a copy of this order to the Ld. Registrar General and all concerned of all High Courts so as to ensure listing of bail applications/ anticipatory bail applications at the earliest.

The case arose out of impugned final judgment and order dated 05-12-2023 in MCRCA No. 1434/2023 passed by the High Court of Chhatisgarh at Bilaspur.

Justices Madhuresh Prasad and Sudhir Singh to be transferred to High Courts of Calcutta, Punjab and Haryana

The Supreme Court's Collegium recommended transfer of Justice Madhuresh Prasad from Patna High Court to Calcutta High Court. On 3 August 2023, the Collegium had proposed the transfer of Justice Prasad for better administration of justice. In terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, the Collegium consulted Judges of the Supreme Court who, being conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Judicature at Patna, are in a position to offer views on the proposed transfer. It also consulted the Chief Justices of the High Courts of Patna and Calcutta. 

By a letter dated 8 August 2023, Justice Prasad has conveyed his consent to the proposal for his transfer to the Calcutta High Court. He has, however, requested that while taking a final decision in the matter the Collegium may take into consideration the fact that final Board Examination of his younger son is due in February 2024. The Collegium considered the request but did not find any merit in the request. On 10 August 2023, the Collegium reiterated its recommendation dated 3 August 2023 to transfer him to the Calcutta High Court. Justice Prasad was a member of Patna High Court's four member Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee, a Statutory Committee headed by Chief Justice constituted on 9 October 2023.  He was member of Court's e-Committee in matter of passing resolutions on all matters related with E-committee, a Statutory Committee,  a member of Court's Selection and Appointment Committee for the Sub-ordinate and Higher Judiciary, a Statutory Committee and a member of Court's Committee to scrutinize the service record
of Judicial Officers on their attaining the age of 50 years and 55 years as on 30.9.2018 for exercise of powers under Rule 74(b)(ii) of the Bihar Service Code. He was a member of Court's Litigation and Vetting Committee, Library Committee for High Court and Sub-Ordinate Court, a Statutory Committee and Committee to supervise and to formulate any suggestions relating to policy matters in the matter of preparation of the Budget of the High Court and the Sub-ordinate Judiciary.

The Collegium also recommended the transfer of Justice Sudhir Singh of Patna High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court for better administration of justice on 3 August 2023. The Collegium considered his representation dated 8 August 2023 wherein he requested that before taking a final decision regarding his transfer, the facts submitted by him in his letter may be considered. On 10 August 2023, the Collegium reiterated its recommendation for his transfer. He was a member of Court's Standing Committee (Statutory Committee, Infrastructural Development Committee to consider the infrastructural matters related with the High Court, residence of Judges and Judges Guest House, Committee to work out modalities for setting up of effective investigation wing under the direct control of High Court and to consider the matter regarding framing up of guidelines with regard to genuineness/correctness of allegation petition by the High Court against the Sub-ordinate Judiciary, Arrears Committee for District Courts, Medical Advisory Committee and Committee for sensitization of Family Court matters.