Challenges in India's Judicial System

India's judicial system is plagued by a significant backlog of court cases, with approximately 55 million pending. This issue is primarily due to a chronic shortage of manpower, including judges and subordinate staff like stenographers and clerks.

Current Judicial Manpower

• As of 2026, India has only 22 judges per million people.
• The Law Commission recommended 50 judges per million as far back as 1987.

Judicial Infrastructure

Another critical factor affecting judicial efficiency is inadequate infrastructure. Chief Justice Surya Kant has initiated the formation of a Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee.

• The committee's goal is to push for a government allocation of ₹40,000 crore to ₹50,000 crore to improve justice delivery infrastructure.
• Previous attempts have been made to address this issue, including suggestions for a National Judicial Infrastructure Corporation.

Issues in Courts

• Physical and digital deficiencies are especially severe in lower courts, which account for 85% of the backlog.
• Fewer than half of the lower courts have studio-based video-conferencing facilities.
• Less than a third provide judges with computers on the dais.
• Many court buildings lack basic amenities, including toilets and drinking water.

Tribunal Challenges

• Tribunals face similar infrastructure shortages.
• Examples include the National Company Law Tribunal operating from inadequate premises and the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal functioning from a hotel.

Proposed Solutions

Judicial reforms must encompass systemic changes and increased infrastructure expenditure.

• Politicization of judicial appointments exacerbates manpower shortages.
• There is a lack of monitoring systems for lower courts, where judges are often absent.
• States show reluctance in investing in judicial infrastructure, with most allocating less than 2% of their budgets.
• The Centre's "Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Judicial Infrastructure" faces challenges due to states' failure to contribute their share.

The need for accountability and enhanced spending on infrastructure is emphasized. However, cooperation between the executive and judiciary is crucial for improving outcomes.