Almost 500 Constitution Bench Matters Pending In Supreme Court; 0.65% Decrease In Pendency Since 2014: Ministry Of Law & Justice

• The number of cases including violent crimes against women lying pending since 2014 in Supreme Court, High Courts, district and other subordinate courts, State/UT, court and category-wise along with the reasons identified for pendency

It has been stated that the Supreme Court of India does not maintain the information in the manner as sought for relating to crime against women. However, as per Supreme Court Subject Categories, Subject Category 1403 deals with "Matters relating to harassment, cruelty to women for dowry, dowry death, eve teasing, domestic violence, etc". The total number of pending cases in the above subject category filed since 2014 in Supreme Court of India stands at 283, as retrieved from the Integrated Case Management Information System (ICMIS) as on 12.12.2022. Further, it states that the information of cases relating to crime against women, including violent crimes, in High Court and District and Subordinate Courts is not maintained centrally in Department of Justice. 

• The percentage increase or decrease in pending cases since 2014, year-wise and court-wise

Total Pending cases in the Supreme Court in 2022 are 6978. This marks a 0.65% decrease in pendency since 2014. In High Courts, there has been a 0.82% increase in pendency with 5351284 pending matters. Finally, in District Courts, the pending matters stand at 42826777, which marks a 4.32% increase in pendency since 2014. 

• The number of cases disposed and average time taken in their disposal, court and State/UT-wise;

As per the statement, the information for number of cases disposed with respect to Supreme Court is not maintained in the manner as sought for. However, the total number of cases disposed of in the Supreme Court of India till 31.10.2022 is 29,109. 

• Whether any study on effect of COVID-19 pandemic on pendency of cases and to introduce Artificial Intelligence in judiciary has been conducted, if so, the details thereof.

The statement provides that no such study has been conducted. However, it states that under the National eGovernance Plan, an eCourts project is under implementation since 2007 for information and communication technology enablement and outreach for the Indian Judiciary. It adds–

"To explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judicial domain, the Supreme Court of India has constituted Artificial Intelligence Committee which has mainly identified application of AI technology in translation of judicial documents, assistance in legal research and process automation. Under the supervision of the AI Committee, an Artificial Intelligence Tool, SUVAS (Supreme Court VidhikAnuvaad Software) for translating Judicial domain English documents in vernacular languages and vice versa has been developed."

Further, it states that an AI based Legal Research Assistance Tool, SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency) has been developed by Artificial Intelligence Committee. Additionally–

"A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been approved by the eCommittee of Supreme Court of India for eCourts Project Phase III that includes components incorporating AI and Blockchain technology that would be developed and procured from the best available technology in the market following the due process of procurement as stipulated by the government.

The statement also provides for the details of pending cases disposed of through virtual courts, special adalats, fast track courts and settled mutually during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise in a tabular form. Further, the details of funds sanctioned for the purpose during the said period and the success achieved therefrom is also provided.

Click Here To Read Statement

Click here to read the statement on the statistics of category of cases pending