The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan last week said it was disheartened to note that in the instant case, while the suit for recovery was filed in 2001, the issues were not framed until 2019 and the plaintiff’s evidence commenced in 2022.
If this was the fate of a suit for recovery of public money, it simply depicted an alarming situation and a question mark on the efficacy of judicial system, noted the Apex Court, and listed the matter for further hearing on October 20.
As per the Apex Court order, the status report would encompass the average pendency of the civil suits in all Sessions divisions of the state; the average life of a civil suit, and the total number of cases (civil and criminal) allocated to each Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate on an average basis.
It would also contain the details of infrastructure, human resource, computer/laptop and other facilities provided to each court, along with the number of civil appeals, trials, and miscellaneous matters pending before the First Appellate Court/Sessions Courts.
The report should further suggest remedial measures in case of inordinate delays, added the Court order.
The top court of the country directed that the report should be submitted for consideration of the Committee for Model Case Flow Management Rules for trial courts, district appellate courts and High Courts.
It further suggested constitution of a committee by the Supreme Court, which would suggest a plan for reduction of arrears in the High Courts and district courts.