In late November 2025, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) called for a comprehensive national judicial policy to address the systemic crisis of judicial pendency in India's courts. As of 2025, over 5 crore cases are pending across all levels of India's judiciary — District Courts (4.4 crore), High Courts (~60 lakh), and the Supreme Court (~80,000). The CJI highlighted that systemic reforms — rather than piecemeal measures — are required: filling judicial vacancies (India has one of the lowest judge-to-population ratios globally at ~21 judges per 10 lakh people, against the recommended 50), adopting AI-based case management systems, expanding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms including Lok Adalats and mediation, and strengthening fast-track courts for heinous crimes, women's cases, and POCSO matters. The CJI also referenced the e-Courts Mission Mode Project (Phase III) as a digital transformation initiative. A national judicial policy would codify timelines, resource allocation, and accountability frameworks across all tiers of the judiciary. For Rajasthan, the High Court of Rajasthan (Jodhpur bench and Jaipur bench) has a significant backlog, and the state's gram nyayalayas and Lok Adalat network are critical for rural justice delivery.
CJI's Call for National Judicial Policy: Addressing Pendency Crisis and Strengthening Access to Justice
In late November 2025, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) called for a comprehensive national judicial policy to address the systemic crisis of judicial pendency in India's courts. As of 2025, over 5 crore cases are pending across all levels of India's judiciary — District Courts (4.4 crore), High Courts (~60 lakh), and the Supreme Court (~80,000). The CJI highlighted that systemic reforms — rather than piecemeal measures — are required: filling judicial vacancies (India has one of the lowest judge-to-population ratios globally at ~21 judges per 10 lakh people, against the recommended 50), adopting AI-based case management systems, expanding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms including Lok Adalats and mediation, and strengthening fast-track courts for heinous crimes, women's cases, and POCSO matters. The CJI also referenced the e-Courts Mission Mode Project (Phase III) as a digital transformation initiative. A national judicial policy would codify timelines, resource allocation, and accountability frameworks across all tiers of the judiciary. For Rajasthan, the High Court of Rajasthan (Jodhpur bench and Jaipur bench) has a significant backlog, and the state's gram nyayalayas and Lok Adalat network are critical for rural justice delivery.
Key facts
- CJI called for a comprehensive national judicial policy to address 5 crore pending cases.
- India has one of the lowest judge-to-population ratios at 21 per 10 lakh against recommended 50.
- Proposed reforms include AI-based case management and expanded ADR mechanisms.
- The e-Courts Mission Mode Project Phase III aims at digital transformation of judiciary.
- District Courts alone have 4.4 crore pending cases while High Courts have 60 lakh.
- Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur and Jaipur benches has significant case backlogs.
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Source: LiveLaw / Bar & Bench / PIB / UPSC Current Affairs
Frequently asked questions
What scale of judicial pendency prompted the CJI's call for a national judicial policy in 2025?
As of 2025, over 5 crore cases are pending across India's courts — 4.4 crore in District Courts, approximately 60 lakh in High Courts, and around 80,000 in the Supreme Court. This systemic crisis prompted the CJI to call for a comprehensive national judicial policy in November 2025.
What is India's judge-to-population ratio and how does it compare to the recommended benchmark?
India has approximately 21 judges per 10 lakh population, against a recommended benchmark of 50 per 10 lakh. This low ratio is one of the primary structural causes of judicial backlog and is a key reform focus in the proposed national judicial policy.
What is the e-Courts Mission Mode Project Phase III and what does it aim to achieve?
The e-Courts Mission Mode Project Phase III is a government initiative aimed at the comprehensive digital transformation of India's judiciary — including online case filing, virtual hearings, digitised records, and AI-assisted case management — to reduce delays and improve access to justice.
What systemic reforms did the CJI highlight as essential for addressing the pendency crisis?
The CJI emphasised filling judicial vacancies urgently, expanding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, deploying AI-based case management systems, and transitioning to digital court infrastructure through the e-Courts Phase III project — all as systemic rather than piecemeal measures.
How does Rajasthan figure in the context of India's judicial pendency problem?
The Rajasthan High Court, with benches at Jodhpur (principal seat) and Jaipur, carries significant case backlogs that mirror the national crisis. Reforms in judicial vacancies and digitisation are particularly relevant for Rajasthan, which is within the jurisdiction of one of India's busier High Courts.
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