'Vision 2047': Madhya Pradesh HC Vows To Ensure No Case In State Remains Pending For Beyond A Year From Its Institution By 2047

On the auspicious occasion of the 75th Republic Day, the Madhya Pradesh High Court announced the launch of the 'Vision 2047', an initiative to celebrate 2047, the 100th year of Independence in a "contributory way" by ensuring that no case remains pending for beyond a year from its institution at Madhya Pradesh.

Releasing a special note on this occasion, Chief Justice Ravi Malimath India sent out a message wherein he informed the bar and bench about this "ambitious goal" ensuring that no case lingers unresolved for more than a year from its filing at the Madhya Pradesh judiciary by the year 2047

In his special message, he mentioned the following initiatives & schemes implemented by the HC during 2022 and 2023 to target the various loopholes and increase the efficacy in the High Court and the district courts of Madhya Pradesh, and which yielded "monumental" results.

• The High Court achieved the highest-ever disposal of cases in the history of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.
• Highest ever disposal of cases over 5 years old in the history of Madhya Pradesh, in the district judiciary.

In his special message, while congratulating the Madhya Pradesh judiciary, the Chief Justice also thanked the senior advocates and advocates of the High Court and the district courts, for working hard for this glorious achievement.

"We may build the best infrastructure, and provide the latest technologies, and the like, but what ultimately matters is whether these have resulted in timely justice to the litigants. The Bar and the Bench have indeed accomplished that," he added in his message.

In his message, the Chief Justice also mentioned about 25 Debt Scheme, a scheme launched in October 2021 to tackle the issue of old cases which were pending for many years but were not being taken up or adjudicated. 

"The oldest cases to be disposed of were from the 1960s. Specifically, from the years 1962, 1964, 1966, 1969. Multiple cases from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and other years were judiciously disposed of as well. An aggregate of 3,93,391 cases over 5 years' old have been disposed of (as of December, 2023). But for the 25 Debt Scheme, it is unlikely that these would have seen hearings. It is a matter of great sorrow that such cases instituted over 50 years ago remained pending but at the same time, a matter of pride that we were able to finally achieve its disposal over 2022 and 2023," he added.

Further, he stressed that if the 25 Debt Scheme were to see a continued and proper implementation, as being currently undertaken, the Judiciary would reach its goal for 2047.

Importantly, in this regard, a committee has also been constituted (to be headed by the Chief Justice) consisting of judges, senior advocates, advocates, academicians, and other stakeholders who would be working towards the vision of ensuring that no case remains pending for beyond a year from its institution at Madhya Pradesh.

The first meeting of the 'Vision 2047' Committee would be undertaken imminently and Senior advocates and advocates have been welcomed to provide their valuable suggestions for 'Vision 2047'. Suggestions from litigants and other stakeholders are also welcome.

"The legal fraternity of Madhya Pradesh has always stepped up for the institution. Through the various initiatives undertaken, including '25 Debt', in 2022-2023, we achieved the highest ever disposals in Madhya Pradesh's history and have strived to give back to the litigants. Through 'Boond', we have made a modest attempt to give back to society. Through 'Vision 2047', let us give all that we have for the Nation," concluded the Chief Justice in his special message.