Efforts on to bring down number of pending cases: Moily

With over 30 million cases pending in various courts across the country, Government has said it has initiated steps to bring down the huge number.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said the national consultation for strengthening the judiciary towards reducing pendencies and delays to be held later this week is part of the government's effort. Moily would present a 'vision statement' on roadmap to reforms at the seminar.

"As on June 30, 2009 over 30 million cases are pending in various courts, including 27.1 million cases in subordinate courts, over 4 million cases in high courts and 50 thousand plus cases in the Supreme Court," Moily said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

He said as part of the government's efforts towards drawing a roadmap for judicial reforms, the Government Litigation Policy would be made ready shortly.

With government being the biggest litigant, the Law Minister has written to various ministries seeking details of the number of cases pending with them.

"The response has been good...we are now analysing the data to find a solution to find ways to ensure that government is not seen as a major litigant in courts," he said.

Moily said while at present it takes an average of 15 years for a case to conclude, efforts were on to bring down the number of years to three.

He said the Gram Nyayalaya Law notified on Gandhi Jayanti will help bring down pendency of cases and bring justice to the rural populace.