Special Lok Adalat is going to be organized across the country in August. Its objective is to speed up disposal of long pending cases. At such a time, the biggest question is that in which court of the country the maximum number of cases are pending and why is there so much delay in getting justice?
The latest figures of the government presented in the Parliament show that crores of cases are still awaiting decision in the courts of the country. The biggest burden is on the district and subordinate courts, where most of the cases related to everyday citizens are heard. This is why both the government and the judiciary are emphasizing on measures like Lok Adalat, e-court and fast track court to reduce the long pending cases.
How many cases are pending?
According to the reply given by the Law Ministry in the Rajya Sabha, till December 8, 2025, about 5.49 crore cases were pending in the courts of the country. Of these, 90,897 cases are pending in the Supreme Court, 63.63 lakh in the High Court and more than 4.84 crore cases are pending in the district and subordinate courts. That means, about 88% of the total pending cases are in district and subordinate courts only.
This is the reason why the biggest impact of special Lok Adalats can be seen on these courts only. Although Lok Adalat does not dispose of all types of cases, it is considered to play an important role in speedy disposal of negotiable cases.
- There are about 5.49 crore cases pending in the country.
- Maximum 4.84 crore cases are in district and subordinate courts.
- The purpose of the special Lok Adalat in August is to speed up disposal of negotiable cases.
About 5.49 crore cases pending in the country
According to the government, till December 8, 2025, about 5.49 crore cases were pending in various courts of the country. It is clear from this that the burden of cases on the justice system is continuously increasing. Of the total pending cases, more than 4.84 crore cases are in the district and subordinate courts. That means, about 88% of the pending cases in the country are in the lower courts, where most of the disputes related to common people are heard.
Will get relief from special Lok Adalat in August
The purpose of the special Lok Adalat to be held in August is to speed up disposal of negotiable cases. This is expected to help in reducing the burden of courts and reducing the number of pending cases. According to the government, the status of cases pending in the courts till December 8, 2025 is as follows-
Supreme Court: 90,897 cases
High Court: 63,63,406 cases
District and Subordinate Courts: 4,84,57,343 cases
It is clear from these figures that the greatest pressure on the judicial system is on the lower courts. This is where most of the cases related to criminal, civil, family, property and other local disputes are registered.
Why are cases delayed?
According to the government, there is no single reason for cases being pending in the courts. Many times the hearing gets prolonged due to the complexity of the case, delay in gathering evidence, non-appearance of witnesses or accused in the court, non-availability of lawyers and lack of staff and infrastructure in the courts. Apart from this, frequent adjournments, non-availability of necessary documents on time and other legal processes also become major reasons for delay in disposal of cases.
What reasons does the NJDG provide?
According to the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), the major reasons for pendency of cases include absence of witnesses, absconding or non-appearance of accused, stay order from Supreme Court or High Court, waiting for documents, unavailability of lawyers, non-availability of records, presence of more witnesses in a case and repeated appeals or interim orders. By analyzing these reasons, NJDG helps in monitoring the functioning of the courts and reducing the pendency of cases. Due to these reasons, many cases are not resolved for years.
What will be the benefit of Special Lok Adalat?
Lok Adalat is an important medium of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). In this, such matters are settled through mutual consent, in which there is scope for compromise. The decision of the Lok Adalat is considered equivalent to the decree of a civil court and no ordinary appeal can be made against it.
Bank recovery, electricity-water bills, motor accident compensation, family disputes, check bounce, labor disputes and other negotiable matters are usually settled expeditiously in Special Lok Adalat. This helps in reducing the burden on the courts.
Government steps to reduce cases
The government says that several steps have been taken to reduce the pending cases and speed up the justice process. Under this, work is being done on the third phase of the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms and e-Court project. So far, more than 579 crore pages have been digitized and more than 3.81 crore hearings have been conducted through video conferencing.
Apart from this, 773 fast track special courts (which include 400 special POCSO courts) are being operated. Arrears committees have been formed in the High Court and District Courts to settle old cases, while mediation and Lok Adalats are also being promoted so that negotiable cases can be settled quickly.
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