9285 cases awaiting disposal in J&K, Ladakh courts since last one decade
More than 9000 cases are awaiting disposals in the courts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh since last 10 years despite several initiatives taken to strengthen judicial system.
“9285 cases in courts of J&K and Ladakh have been awaiting disposal since last 10 years,” reveals a data shared on floor of Lok Sabha.
Among the pending cases, 5907 are awaiting disposal in High Courts while 3378 are pending in District and Subordinate Courts of Union Territories.
Regarding the vacancies in the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the data reveals that there are a total of two vacancies against a total sanctioned strength of 17 permanent and additional judges.
Till July 14, 2022 against the sanctioned strength of 17 judges, including 13 permanent and four additional, there is one post each of permanent and additional judges lying vacant in J&K and Ladakh High Court.
However, in 2019 there was a shortfall of a total of nine judges in J&K and Ladakh High Court, which has been subsequently reduced to only a couple of vaccines.
The strength is likely to go further up as a couple of days back the Supreme Court collegium led by Chief Justice has cleared the name of senior most Sessions Judge Rajesh Sekri of J&K from Judicial Officer quote for elevation as judges to J&K High Court.
However, at present the judges serving in J&K and Ladakh High Court included Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Justice Sanjeev Kumar Shukla, Justice Sindhu Sharma, Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Justice Sanjay Dhar and Justice Javed Iqbal Wani, Justice Rahul Bharti and Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi.
Moreover, fast track courts in Jammu and Kashmir have disposed off 433 cases in last three years.
“27 cases were disposed off in 2020 on fastrack basis while391 in 2021 and 15 till ending May this year,” the data reveals.
Funds released to provide infrastructure facilities for speedy disposal of pending cases across J&K and Ladakh UT included 15 Crore in 2019-20, 6.65 crore in 2020-21 and 20 crore in the current year.
Regarding the steps taken to ensure reduction in the unnecessary litigation by various arms of the Government, it is stated that Ministries and Departments like the Railways and Department of Revenue, involved in a high number of litigations have been taking several measures for reducing the number of Court cases.
