Jammu Kashmir HC Disposals Drop to 13,283 in 2025, Down from 23,037 Recorded in 2021 | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has recorded 13,283 disposals so far in 2025 against 13,867 last year, even as the Union Government told the Rajya Sabha that the responsibility for courtroom performance evaluation rests entirely with the judiciary. The disclosure came in a written reply by Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, who also tabled five-year data showing fluctuating disposal trends across High Courts.

According to the figures placed before Parliament, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court recorded 23,037 disposals in 2021, 16,795 in 2022, 14,393 in 2023, 12,885 in 2024 and 13,283 until December 8, 2025. Institution numbers broadly mirrored this pattern, reflecting modest year-to-year shifts in filings rather than any major systemic change.

Responding to concerns raised by Vivek K Tanka, the Minister said court performance metrics — including judge evaluation and case disposal assessment — fall under the exclusive domain of the Supreme Court and the High Courts. He pointed to the National Court Management System and the National Framework of Court Excellence as judiciary-led mechanisms that set objective benchmarks for efficiency, pendency reduction and court management.

On persistent bottlenecks such as vacancies, infrastructure shortfalls and procedural delays, the Government acknowledged these factors continue to affect disposal rates but argued that it has been expanding support systems to strengthen judicial delivery. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for infrastructure in District and Subordinate Courts, Rs 12,358.15 crore has been released since 1993–94, raising court halls from 15,818 in 2014 to 22,606 in October 2025 and residential units from 10,211 to 20,008 in the same period.

The Centre also highlighted the ongoing eCourts Phase-III project, which has digitised 579.53 crore pages of records, enabled 3.81 crore virtual hearings and expanded e-Sewa Kendras to 1,987 locations. On judicial appointments, the Ministry reported 72 Supreme Court appointments since 2014, and 1,156 new High Court judges along with 819 confirmations of additional judges. Sanctioned strength in High Courts has risen from 906 to 1,122 since 2014.

To address pendency, every High Court and its subordinate judiciary now has arrears committees to target cases pending for over five years. The network of Fast Track Special Courts for rape and POCSO cases has reached 773, including 400 exclusive POCSO courts, across 29 States and Union Territories. Ten special courts are dedicated to criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs.

Additional measures listed by the Government include legislative amendments in commercial, criminal and arbitration laws; wider promotion of mediation; National Lok Adalats at regular intervals; and expansion of the Tele-Law platform and pro bono legal services through High Court panels and law school clubs.

The reply underscored that while pendency reduction remains a constitutional mandate under Article 21, the judiciary alone controls case disposal, and the Government’s role is limited to strengthening the ecosystem through infrastructure, technology, funding and administrative support.