• National Litigation Policy Document Released
  • National Litigation Policy will be implemented from 1st July,2010

The centre has formulated in National Litigation Policy to reduce the cases pending in various Courts in India under the National Legal Mission to reduce average pendency time from 15 year to 3years. Launching the new Litigation Policy  Law minister Dr M. Veerappa Moily asserted that the purpose of the new Law is also reduce the government Litigation cases in the courts so that they can devote more time in resolving other pending cases. He said this policy will be implemented from 1st July,2010.

Describing the new policy as a part of the judicial and Legal reforms undertaken by the government since long, Dr Moily said that such a step is being taken for the first time in the history of independent India.

The highlights of the policy include focussing on the core issues involved in the litigation, managing and conducting litigation in a cohesive manner.

It also ensures that bad cases are not needlessly pursued while good cases are won and cases are represented by competent and sensitive legal persons.

As per the information available, 3,11,39,022 cases were pending in the courts in the country as on 30.6.09. Since their establishment, the Fast Track Courts have disposed of 25.07 lakh cases out of 31.01 lakh cases transferred to them. The Gram Nyayalaya Act, 2008 providing for setting up Gram Nyayalayas has come into force only on 2nd October, 2009. Information on cases disposed of and pending in Grame Nyaylayas is not maintained centrally.

The following steps have been taken to facilitate speedy disposal of cases in courts:

1 . Increasing the strength of Judges in Supreme Court and the High Courts.

2.  Introduction of some legislative measures for improvement in judicial procedure and for expediting disposal of civil and criminal cases in courts. The Civil Procedure Code and Criminal Procedure Code have been amended and the concept of ‘Pleas-Bargaining’ has been introduced.

3.  Alternative modes of disposal including mediation, conciliation and arbitration have been encouraged.

4.  Other measures like grouping of cases involving common questions of law, constitution of specialized benches, setting up of special courts and organizing Lok Adalats at regular intervals have also been taken.

5 . Steps have also been taken for modernization of the judicial infrastructure through computerization of courts.

Separately, the Government has decided, in principle, to set up a National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms which proposes to undertake several strategic initiatives to (i) outline policy changes (ii) re-engineer procedures (iii) leverage Information and Communication Technology & Tools for better justice delivery.

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