R D UPADHYA Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In the subordinate courts of the country there is a huge pendency of cases both on the civil and criminal side. There are many causes for docket explosion. Remedial steps are required to be taken by all concerned to retain the faith of the common man in the administration of justice and rule of law. While one of the causes of pendency also is non-filled vacancies in the existing courts, another cause is shortage of courts and insufficiency of infrastructure. From a perusal of affidavits filed by various High Courts, we find that requisitions/requests have been made to the State Governments by the High Courts for creation of more courts, for filling up of the vacancies and for appointment of more judicial officers. Information is, however, not forthcoming from various State Governments and Union Territories as to how those requisitions/requests from the High Courts have been dealt with.

(2.) Learned counsel appearing for various State Governments and Union territories submit that they shall ascertain the position from their respective state Governments/union Territories whether any requisitions/requests have been made and, if so, for how many courts/judicial officers such requests have been made and what steps, if any, have been taken to create those courts so that justice is not denied by sheer delay.

(3.) Mr Altaf Ahmed, learned Additional Solicitor-General was sent for and has been requested to ascertain whether any special allocation of funds has been made by the Central Government for creation of more courts and, if so, the manner of allocation of those funds. We expect a response from the union Government in this behalf in four weeks.