Union Government Party To 6 Lakh Pending Court Cases-INR 270 Crore Spent In Litigation In Just 5 Years

Union Government Party To 6 Lakh Pending Court Cases-INR 270 Crore Spent In Litigation In Just 5 Years

The Union government is involved in more than 6.35 lakh cases that are ongoing in courts across the country, putting it in the midst of a startling amount of legal disputes. In response to a query posed by BJP Lok Sabha MP Dushyant Singh, Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal made this admission. The government has had to set aside more than INR 270 crore in expenditure over the last five years due to the cost of litigation, which has also taken a toll on the exchequer. The information reveals the load that numerous ministries and departments must bear, raising questions about the effectiveness of the legal system and the demand for thorough reforms.

The Proliferation of Pending Cases

In his written response to the Lok Sabha, the Law and Justice Minister revealed that the government is at present involved in an astounding 6,36,605 cases in various courts all across the country. This concerning number reflects the numerous legal complications that various ministries and agencies belonging to the central government are now dealing with.

Top Ministries Battling Litigation

The government’s Ministry of Finance leads the list in terms of the ministries dealing with the most backlog of cases, with almost 1.79 lakh cases involved. With 1.10 lakh and 87,000 instances, respectively, the Ministry of Railways as well as the Ministry of Defense are next in line. Almost sixty per cent of the pending lawsuits against the Union government are related to these three departments. The enormous number of cases occurring in these crucial domains necessitates a closer investigation of the elements causing their legal difficulties.

Least Burdened Ministries

On the contrary end of the spectrum, with only 5, 14, as well as 27 instances, respectively, the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs, Panchayati Raj, and North East Development have been identified as those that are least burdened. These figures demonstrate the gap in legal participation among various governmental entities and raise concerns regarding the causes of the variation.

Escalating Expenses in Legal Battles

In addition to dealing with an enormous number of scenarios, the Union government has had to shoulder an enormous amount of debt because of litigation-related costs. According to information provided by the Law and Justice Minister, the national government has shelled out an average of more than INR Fifty crores yearly on costs associated with litigation during the last five financial years.

Fluctuating Expenditures

The Central Exchequer needed to pay a whopping INR 60,40,71,128 throughout the course of the fiscal year 2019–20 as a result of the litigation’s highest expense. Nevertheless, there was actually a little reduction in costs in 2021–22, when they fell to INR 48,37,38,252. These swings in costs raise concerns about the government’s approach to properly managing and controlling the legal expenses.

Overburdened Judicial System

The National Judicial Data Grid as well as the Integrated Case Management System statistics present a worrisome picture of the workload of the Indian judiciary. There are now 69,766 cases unresolved within the Supreme Court of India as of July 1. The number of cases currently pending in the high courts and lower courts, respectively, is at 60,62,953 as well as 4,41,35,357. There are currently in excess of five crore lawsuits pending in the courts.

The Call for Reforms

Increasing requests for fundamental judicial changes have been triggered by the worrisome number of cases that are still outstanding as well as the rising costs of litigation. Urgent steps must be taken to simplify and speed up the legal procedures due to the stress they are placing on the government and judiciary. While there have been recent efforts to digitize court proceedings as well as set up case management systems, more actions are needed to clear the backlog and effectively control costs.

In a nutshell it is imperative that prompt action be taken in light of the disclosure that the Union government is involved in the excess of 6.35 lakh active cases as well as the astounding litigation costs of over than INR 270 crore incurred over the past five years.

The government should prioritize clearing the backlog and improving the effectiveness of the court system to guarantee that justice is provided in an efficient and cost-effective way. India’s legal system cannot be changed to satisfy the demands and aspirations of its population without extensive reforms.

Way Ahead

The most recent admission that the Union government is involved in more than 6.35 lakh pending cases as well as the outrageous litigation costs of more than INR 270 crore over the past five years draw attention to the urgent need for responsible management of litigation costs and coordinated attempts to reduce the massive backlog of instances in the legal system. To create a more efficient and readily available justice delivery mechanism, quick action is required due to the pressure on the government as well as judicial system.

The government’s legal tactics and budget distribution need to be thoroughly reviewed in light of the rising litigation costs. Even while certain legal disputes are unavoidable in governance, taking a proactive approach to dispute settlement, which includes using alternative dispute resolution techniques, can reduce the cost burden on the exchequer. This necessitates a concerted effort on the part of the Union administration to become involved in early negotiations for settlement and consider mediation options prior to succumbing to lengthy and costly court fights.

Additionally, the significant number of pending proceedings in specific ministries, most notably the Ministries of Finance, Railways, as well as Defense, should require a careful examination of their legal obligations. Recognizing the core causes of litigation as well as putting preventive measures in place can assist to decrease future legal problems and the demand on administrative along with judicial resources.

Along with minimizing legal expenditures, the government must give preference to achieving a decrease of the judiciary’s backlog of lawsuits. The overwhelming amount of cases that are still pending in the Supreme Court, higher courts, and lower courts illustrates the urgent need for changes to streamline court procedures, implement technologically driven solutions, and expand the total amount of appointments to the judiciary. In order to move on with pending cases and find creative ways to improve the effectiveness of court processes, the government should collaborate closely with the judicial system.

In addition to being crucial for the government’s efficient operation, initiatives to decrease the backlog and control legal fees are also crucial for upholding the ideals of justice and guaranteeing the prompt resolution of citizen disputes. An effective and responsive judicial system will promote the rule of law and inspire more confidence in the nation’s government.

The Union government has to acknowledge its duty to carefully manage legal costs and hasten the conclusion of ongoing cases in cooperation with the judiciary as India maintains its journey toward advancement and economic success. Every person of the country will eventually reap the rewards from a dedication to reforms in the judiciary and creative ideas that will pave the road for a more efficient and fair justice system. The only way the government can guarantee that the pursuit of justice is not postponed and that everyone has unrestricted access to the legal system is by taking proactive actions.