“The subordinate judiciary is the backbone of India’s justice system, yet it suffers from chronic backlog”. Identify the systemic reasons behind pendency in lower courts. Evaluate its impact on justice delivery at the grassroots level. What measures can be undertaken to address this backlog effectively?
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary.
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary.
Q4. “The subordinate judiciary is the backbone of India’s justice system, yet it suffers from chronic backlog”. Identify the systemic reasons behind pendency in lower courts. Evaluate its impact on justice delivery at the grassroots level. What measures can be undertaken to address this backlog effectively? (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: TH
Why the question: Recent data (July 2025) reveals that over 4.6 crore cases are pending in subordinate courts, raising serious concerns about the functioning of grassroots justice delivery mechanisms. Key Demand of the question: The question requires identifying the core structural and procedural reasons for pendency in lower courts, assessing how it impacts justice delivery at the grassroots, and proposing concrete institutional and policy-level reforms to resolve the crisis. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Briefly highlight the critical role of subordinate judiciary in ensuring access to justice and its current state of overwhelming pendency. Body: Reasons for pendency: Highlight key systemic and procedural causes such as vacancies, poor infrastructure, government litigation, etc. Impact on grassroots justice: Discuss erosion of public trust, violation of Article 21, costs to litigants, and spillover to higher judiciary. Measures to address backlog: Suggest a mix of institutional, administrative, and technological reforms including AIJS, court infrastructure funding, ADR, and digitisation. Conclusion: Reinforce the idea that timely and effective justice at the subordinate level is essential to uphold constitutional morality and democratic trust.
Why the question: Recent data (July 2025) reveals that over 4.6 crore cases are pending in subordinate courts, raising serious concerns about the functioning of grassroots justice delivery mechanisms.
Key Demand of the question: The question requires identifying the core structural and procedural reasons for pendency in lower courts, assessing how it impacts justice delivery at the grassroots, and proposing concrete institutional and policy-level reforms to resolve the crisis.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction: Briefly highlight the critical role of subordinate judiciary in ensuring access to justice and its current state of overwhelming pendency.
• Reasons for pendency: Highlight key systemic and procedural causes such as vacancies, poor infrastructure, government litigation, etc.
• Impact on grassroots justice: Discuss erosion of public trust, violation of Article 21, costs to litigants, and spillover to higher judiciary.
• Measures to address backlog: Suggest a mix of institutional, administrative, and technological reforms including AIJS, court infrastructure funding, ADR, and digitisation.
Conclusion: Reinforce the idea that timely and effective justice at the subordinate level is essential to uphold constitutional morality and democratic trust.