Watershed moment in legal history: Supreme Court disposes of more cases than registered in 2023

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has achieved a historic milestone by disposing of more cases than the number of litigations registered this year, marking a significant breakthrough in tackling the longstanding issue of judicial backlog, according to media reports. As per the latest records until December 15, the Court resolved a total of 52,191 cases compared to the 49,191 cases filed during the same period, heralding what has been described as a ‘watershed moment in the nation's legal history’.

Providing a breakdown of the disposed cases, the Court highlighted that out of the total cases addressed, approximately 45,642 were miscellaneous matters, while around 6,549 were regular matters. Notably, these resolved cases encompassed various legal realms, including 18,449 criminal matters, 10,348 ordinary civil matters, and 4,410 service matters.

This achievement, as per reports, describes the judiciary’s current approach that was complemented by the adoption of technology and strategic reforms, which have substantially increased the efficiency of justice delivery in the country.

The Court emphasised that this accomplishment not only showcases the resilience and adaptability of the Indian legal system but also underscores the judiciary's unwavering commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of justice in a dynamically evolving world.

Highlighting the technological strides, the Supreme Court noted that the disposal rate in 2023 is the highest recorded since the implementation of the Integrated Case Management Information System (ICMIS) in 2017.

Additionally, the Court attributed this success to the leadership of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and the blueprint he brought up for expeditious case disposal. His reforms streamlined the time frame from filing to listing cases, reducing the processing time from 10 days to within 5 to 7 days post listing after the matter's verification.

In a notable move, the Court also expedited certain urgent matters such as bail, habeas corpus, eviction, demolition, and anticipatory bail, processing them within a single day and promptly listing them for resolution.

Moreover, breaking new ground, the Court managed to list 2,262 cases related to human liberty during the vacation period from May 22 to July 2, resolving 780 such cases, signifying an unprecedented prioritisation of crucial matters even during non-traditional working periods.