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India's Justice Crisis: Over 4.76 Crore Court Cases Pending Nationwide

The Indian government has informed Parliament that a staggering 4.76 crore cases are pending across various courts in the country as of December 2025. This includes over 63.66 lakh cases in High Courts and 92,101 cases in the Supreme Court, with pendency increasing by 4.75% and 11.40% respectively over three years. Uttar Pradesh leads in district court pendency with over 1.13 crore cases, followed by Maharashtra and West Bengal. While stating case disposal is the judiciary's domain, the government highlighted initiatives like court computerization and filling vacancies to create an ecosystem for faster resolution.

Key Points: 4.76 Crore Court Cases Pending in India, Govt Data Shows

  • Over 4.76 crore total cases pending
  • 63.66 lakh cases in High Courts
  • Uttar Pradesh has highest pendency
  • Govt cites infrastructure & digitization efforts
2 min read

Over 4.76 crore court cases pending across India: Govt informs Parliament

Govt reveals over 4.76 crore cases pending in Indian courts. Uttar Pradesh tops list with over 1.13 crore cases. Details on High Court & Supreme Court backlog.

"The disposal of cases is within the exclusive domain of the judiciary. - Arjun Ram Meghwal"

New Delhi, Feb 13

Over 4.76 crore cases are pending across various courts in the country, including more than 63.66 lakh cases in High Courts and 92,101 cases in the Supreme Court of India, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

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Replying to an unstarred question, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said that, as per data available on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), a total of 4,76,57,328 cases were pending in district and subordinate courts as on December 31, 2025.

Meghwal, who is also the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, added that the pendency in the Supreme Court stood at 92,101 cases as on December 31, 2025, reflecting an 11.40 per cent increase over the last three years.

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The data further showed that a total of 63,66,023 cases were pending across the 25 High Courts in the country as on December 31, 2025, marking a 4.75 per cent rise in pendency during the same period. Among High Courts, the Allahabad High Court had the highest pendency with 12,07,240 cases, followed by the Bombay High Court with 6,64,979 cases and the Rajasthan High Court with 6,87,595 pending matters as on December 31, 2025, according to official data.

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The data indicated that pendency in district and subordinate courts increased by 5.84 per cent over the last three years, rising to 4,76,57,328 cases as on December 31, 2025.

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State-wise data showed that Uttar Pradesh alone accounted for 1,13,45,328 pending cases in district and subordinate courts, followed by Maharashtra with 59,26,999 cases and West Bengal with 38,35,113 cases.

The Minister said that disposal of cases is within the exclusive domain of the judiciary, adding that the government has taken several initiatives to provide an ecosystem for faster disposal, including strengthening infrastructure, computerisation of courts, filling vacancies, and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

"The disposal of cases is within the exclusive domain of the judiciary. However, the Central Government is committed to the speedy disposal of cases and reducing pendency as mandated under Article 21 of the Constitution and has taken several initiatives to provide an ecosystem for faster disposal of cases by the judiciary," Meghwa said in his written reply.

The government reiterated that measures such as the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, promotion of Lok Adalats, amendments to key commercial and criminal laws, and implementation of the eCourts project are aimed at addressing judicial delays and improving case management across all levels of the judiciary.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priyanka N
Uttar Pradesh alone has over 1.13 crore pending cases! 😱 This is a crisis. While eCourts and infrastructure are important, we also need to look at why so many cases are filed. Can some matters be resolved at the police station or tehsil level itself? The system is collapsing under its own weight.
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Aman W
Respectfully, the Minister's reply feels like passing the buck. "Disposal is within the exclusive domain of the judiciary" – but funding, appointments, and infrastructure are with the government. Both need to work together more urgently. The 11.4% increase in Supreme Court pendency is especially worrying.
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Sarah B
As someone who has worked with NGOs on legal aid, I see the human cost every day. People give up hope. Lok Adalats and mediation are good steps, but they need more promotion and trust from the public. Justice should not be a luxury for those who can wait decades.
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Karthik V
The data from NJDG is at least bringing transparency. We can now see the problem clearly. But a 5.84% increase in lower court pendency in three years shows we are moving backwards. We need more night courts, fast-track courts for specific offences, and better case management systems. Jai Hind!
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Michael C
This isn't just a legal issue, it's an economic one. Pending cases create uncertainty, stall business projects, and discourage investment. The focus on commercial laws is good, but the sheer scale in states like UP and Maharashtra needs a state-specific, mission-mode approach.

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