10,000 cases pending in SC for 10 yrs, 80,000 in HCs for 30 yrs

Over 10,000 cases in the Supreme Court have been pending for more than 10 years, including 558 for over 20 years and 26 for over 30 years.

In India's 25 high courts, over 80,000 cases have been pending for more than three decades.

Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal attributed delays to judicial vacancies and lack of a fixed timeframe for disposal, citing factors like availability of judges and staff.

High courts have 341 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 1,122 judges; subordinate courts have 7,311 vacancies against an approved strength of 30,868.

Arrears Committees have been set up in all high courts and district courts to clear cases pending for over five years, and new laws like the New Criminal Laws 2023 were enacted to reduce pendency.