Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has emerged as a leader in judicial efficiency, achieving the lowest pendency of cases among all benches of the Bombay High Court, despite operating with three judge vacancies.
According to the National Judicial Data Grid, the Bombay High Court currently has a combined case pendency of 6,51,111 cases, of which 74,027 are from the Nagpur Bench. Notably, 45,962 cases at the Nagpur Bench are less than a year old, accounting for 62.09% of its total pendency.
The achievement has been attributed to the relentless efforts of the 11 judges presently serving at the bench, working under a sanctioned strength of 14. Advocate Atul Pande, President of the High Court Bar Association (HCBA), applauded the dedication of judges and lawyers.
“Despite the three vacant judge positions at the Nagpur Bench, we have managed to maintain the lowest case pendency. This milestone is a testament to the hard work of judges and advocates who prioritize timely hearings and justice delivery,” Pande said. He emphasized that filling the vacancies would further enhance the efficiency of the justice system and improve access to justice.
The challenge of judicial vacancies is not limited to the Nagpur Bench. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal recently informed Parliament about the nationwide judicial shortfall, revealing two vacancies in the Supreme Court, 364 in High Courts, and 5,245 in District Courts. The Bombay High Court, with a sanctioned strength of 94 judges, has nearly 30 positions unfilled.
Advocate Roshan Bagde, President of the District Bar Association (DBA), underlined the critical need for more judicial resources in Nagpur district.
“The district has 92 courts, including special courts for POCSO, domestic violence, and atrocities. However, 21 additional judges are urgently needed to improve the efficiency of the judiciary. Furthermore, the shortage of ministerial staff, such as stenographers and clerks, also hampers the justice delivery process. Addressing these vacancies is crucial to overcoming systemic delays,” Bagde stated.
The remarkable efficiency of the Nagpur Bench demonstrates the impact of collective efforts by the judiciary and legal fraternity, even amidst resource constraints. However, the call for filling judicial and administrative vacancies echoes the growing demand for a more robust and accessible justice system in the region.
