Judiciary Overload: Kerala CM Highlights Court Crisis

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan highlighted the severe backlog in the judiciary, with around five crore pending cases across Indian courts. Speaking at a foundation stone-laying ceremony, he emphasized the need for comprehensive intervention to address the shortage of courts and judicial officers and improve infrastructure and coordination.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has drawn attention to the staggering backlog in the judiciary, stating that around five crore cases are currently pending in various courts across India. Vijayan highlighted the issue during a foundation stone-laying ceremony for a new court complex in Kannur.

The Chief Minister emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive intervention to strengthen the judiciary, quoting Supreme Court Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud's recent remark that prolonged case pendency is a form of punishment for litigants. He called for immediate actions to resolve the crisis.

While attributing the backlog to multiple factors such as infrastructure deficits and poor inter-departmental coordination, Vijayan noted that the Kerala government had established 105 new courts and created numerous judicial posts since 2016 as part of its ongoing efforts to tackle the issue.

(With inputs from agencies.)