Executive Summary:
This document is a response to a parliamentary question regarding the progress of uniform case categorization in High Courts and the impact of technology on case backlogs. The response references a National Conference held in February 2025 and provides data up to June 30, 2025, on the use of technology in resolving pending cases. The Supreme Court of India provided the information for this response.
Key Points / Main Content:
Case Categorization:
- The Supreme Court of India has implemented case categorization.
- High Courts can replicate the model prepared by the Case Categorization Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court.
- The Supreme Court of India does not maintain information on the implementation of case categorization by High Courts.
Technological Interventions and Case Resolution:
- Timely disposal of cases depends on multiple factors including the number of judges, staff, infrastructure, and stakeholder cooperation.
- Technological interventions, including AI and ML tools, enhance efficiency and access to justice.
- Over 2.73 crore cases have been heard in District and Subordinate Courts via Video Conferencing (VC).
- Approximately 308 crore pages have been digitized in District Courts by June 30, 2025.
- e-filing rules have been implemented in all District Courts except in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
- Lawyers and litigants have online access to case information in multiple languages.
- The eCourts Mobile App has over 3.16 crore downloads, and the JustIS app has 21,716 downloads.
- The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) provides online access to case information and facilitates policy decisions and monitoring of court performance.
Impact Analysis:
Supreme Court of India:
Impact: Provides information on case categorization and technological interventions in courts.
Action Required: Continue to support High Courts in implementing case categorization models.
High Courts:
Impact: Encouraged to replicate the Supreme Court's case categorization model.
Action Required: Consider implementing the case categorization model prepared by the Supreme Court’s Case Categorization Advisory Committee.
District and Subordinate Courts:
Impact: Utilizing technological interventions like VC, eSewa Kendras, digitization, and e-filing.
Action Required: Continue utilizing and expanding technological infrastructure for case management and disposal, and implement e-filing rules where not yet in place (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan).
Lawyers and Litigants:
Impact: Enhanced access to case information and court services through online platforms and mobile apps.
Action Required: Utilize online resources such as the eCourts Mobile App, JustIS app, and NJDG for case information and updates.
Government of India (Ministry of Law and Justice):
Impact: Monitoring progress on case categorization and the impact of technology on reducing case backlogs.
Action Required: Continue supporting the implementation of technology in courts and monitor its effectiveness through platforms like NJDG.
Key Entities Referenced
Adv. Chandra Shekhar: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question No. 2273 in Lok Sabha.
Arjun Ram Meghwal: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Supreme Court of India: The apex court of India, responsible for providing information on case categorization and technological interventions in the judiciary.
National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG): A system providing online information about cases, judgments, and orders of courts across the country, used for policy decisions, monitoring court performance, and resource management.
eCourts: An initiative utilizing technological interventions to resolve pending cases and enhance efficiency in the judicial system.
District and Subordinate Courts: The lower courts in India where video conferencing and digitization efforts have been implemented.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India where efiling rules have not been fully rolled out in the District Courts.
Rajasthan: A state in India where efiling rules have not been fully rolled out in the District Courts.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2273
ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 01st AUGUST, 2025
TECHNOLOGY AND CASE BACKLOG
2273. Adv. Chandra Shekhar:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) the progress made in implementing uniform case categorization across High Courts since
the National Conference held in February 2025; and
(b) the number of pending cases that have been resolved through technological interventions
like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-Courts out of the total 4.5 crore cases pending
as of December 2024?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND
JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) As per information provided by the Supreme Court of India, case categorization has been
implemented in the Supreme Court of India. During the National Conference on Addressing Issues
faced by the State Judiciary held on 01st Feb, 2025, it was suggested that the model prepared by
the Case Categorization Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court can be replicated by High
Courts. However, information in regard to implementation of case categorization by High Courts
is not maintained by the Supreme Court of India.
(b) Timely disposal of cases in courts depends on several factors which, inter-alia, include
availability of adequate number of judges/ judicial officers, supporting court staff and physical
infrastructure, complexity of facts involved, nature of evidence and co-operation of stake
holders viz. bar, investigation agencies, witnesses and litigants. Introduction of Information and
Communication Technology, along with other initiatives, facilitates reduction in the pendency
of cases.
As per information provided by the Supreme Court of India, technological interventions,
including use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning based tools, have resulted in
enhanced efficiency and access to justice. Till date, more than 2.73 crore cases have been heard
in the District and Subordinate Courts through Video Conferencing (VC) facility. For providing
1citizen centric services to the stakeholders, about 1773 eSewa Kendras (facilitation centres) are
operational in the District and Subordinate Courts. Approximately 308 crore pages have been
digitized in the District Courts till 30.06.2025. The e-filing rules have been rolled out in all the
District Courts across the country except in the case of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and
Rajasthan. The lawyers/litigants across the country have online access to information related to
case status, cause lists, judgements etc in multiple languages. The e-Courts Mobile App for
lawyers/litigants and the JustIS app for judges have witnessed more than 3.16 crore and 21716
downloads respectively. Information about cases, judgments/orders etc of courts across the
country is available online on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG). Age-wise pendency
details of the cases and their categorization on the NJDG portal help in analysing the reasons for
delay. The NJDG through its timely inputs facilitates policy decisions, monitoring of court
performance, identification of systemic bottlenecks and effective resource management.
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