India’s judicial backlog has continued to escalate, with a sharp increase in pending cases across the Supreme Court, High Courts, and District and Subordinate Courts over the last three years. Despite efforts to speed up legal proceedings, the expected number of fast-track courts (FTCs) have not been established, exacerbating delays in the justice system.
The data presented by the Ministry of Law and Justice to the Rajya Sabha last month shows that the backlog of cases in India’s judiciary has continued to rise over the last three years. The latest data, as of February 7, 2025, reveals a sharp surge in pending cases, particularly in High Courts, which recorded a 12.5 per cent rise in just over a month.
Supreme Court of India has seen a steady increase in pending cases over the past three years. On December 31, 2022, the number stood at 78,797, rising to 80,674 in 2023 and 82,496 in 2024—an overall increase of 4.7 per cent over two years. However, by February 7, 2025, the backlog slightly dipped to 81,573, reflecting a 1.1 per cent decline from the end of 2024.
High Courts have experienced the sharpest increase in pending cases. From 53.92 lakh cases in 2022, the number grew to 54.42 lakh in 2023, marking a 0.93 per cent increase. However, by the end of 2024, pending cases had risen to 55.40 lakh, showing an additional 1.8 per cent growth. The most alarming trend is observed in early 2025, with cases soaring to 62.35 lakh—a 12.5 per cent jump within just over a month, indicating growing judicial delays.
The bulk of India’s legal backlog remains in District and Subordinate Courts, where pending cases have consistently increased. From 4.32 crore cases in 2022, the number rose to 4.39 crore in 2023 (1.56 per cent increase), and further to 4.54 crore by 2024 (3.37 per cent rise). As of February 7, 2025, the pending caseload stands at 4.57 crore, reflecting a 0.63 per cent increase in just over a month.
Fast Track Courts
Legal experts attribute this rising backlog to multiple factors, including an inadequate judge-to-population ratio, frequent adjournments, procedural delays, and many court vacancies. With the High Courts witnessing a staggering 12.5 per cent increase in pending cases in early 2025 alone, judicial reforms such as digitization, fast-track courts, and alternate dispute resolution mechanisms are being increasingly emphasized to tackle the crisis.
The establishment of subordinate courts, including Fast Track Courts (FTCs), falls under the jurisdiction of State and Union Territory (UT) Governments, which set them up based on their needs and available resources, in consultation with their respective High Courts. The 14th Finance Commission had recommended the creation of 1,800 FTCs between 2015 and 2020 to ensure the speedy trial of cases involving heinous crimes, civil disputes related to women, children, senior citizens, disabled persons, terminally ill individuals, and property cases pending for over five years. However, as of December 31, 2024, data from the High Courts reveals that only 863 FTCs are currently operational across the country—less than half of the recommended number.