~By Kunal Rao

In a bid to end long-pending cases in lower courts, the State Court Management Systems Committee (SCMSC) headed by Justice Ravindra Bhatt, Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Justice R K Guaba has directed all District and Session Judges of the National Capital to draw up action plans specifying definite dates for disposal of cases that are over five years old expeditiously.

Following this almost 50 per cent of 10-year old cases and 30 per cent of five year old cases would be decided. The lower courts had taken the initiative after the apex court showed its concern on the large number of pending cases.

On the recommendations of the SCMSC, District & Session Judges directed all Judicial Officers to identify the Old cases and propose individual action plans for their disposal of ten year old cases and five year old cases.

They also sought listing of those cases on the website of each district court with a comment that such cases have been put on fast track for expeditious disposal and short dates would be given in them.

In the previous months more than 10 meetings were held by the SCMSC to review and monitor the progress made in the disposal of the cases.

SCMSC also recommended that individual letters of appreciation to be sent to the District and Session Judges by Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal considering the efforts made by sub-ordinate judiciary for steady disposal of the cases.

Read the minutes of the  State Court Management Systems Committee meeting here 

—India Legal Bureau