20 august 2024 : In light of a backlog exceeding four hundred thousand cases, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has resolved to give precedence to cases involving applicants who are 91 years of age or older. Currently, the high court is handling 28,409 cases filed by senior citizens, which includes 6,729 criminal cases.
To ensure the expedited processing of these cases, the high court has requested that petitioners or their legal representatives submit a request letter accompanied by documentation verifying the applicant’s age, such as a birth certificate, matriculation certificate, Aadhaar card, PAN card, or senior citizen identity card.
Any other government-sanctioned identification card that includes the applicant’s date of birth may also be provided. For individuals who are illiterate, a sworn affidavit from the applicant will be adequate. A notice regarding this matter has already been issued following the decision of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu.
This directive holds considerable importance as the high court is currently facing an overwhelming backlog of 433,730 cases, which includes 161,431 criminal cases that pertain to life and liberty. The ruling seeks to mitigate the excessive delays experienced by elderly applicants, who, due to their age, face distinct challenges that can be intensified by extended legal processes.
At present, the court is operating with a deficit of 30 judges, functioning with only 55 judges instead of the authorized 85. Compounding this issue, six judges are scheduled to retire by 2025, with three of them retiring this year.
There are 15 judges who qualify for promotion from the district and sessions judges category; however, their appointments have been delayed due to the lack of a regular Chief Justice for nearly eight months. This vacancy arose following the retirement of Justice Ravi Shanker Jha in October of the previous year.
Justice Nagu was ultimately sworn in as Chief Justice on July 9, after an extended period without a permanent appointment. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has recommended the promotion of the first puisne Justice GS Sandhawalia to the position of Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, leaving uncertainty regarding when the collegium will reconvene to address the escalating shortage of judges.
Although the high court collegium may propose new candidates, the prospects for improvement remain dim due to the lengthy and intricate appointment procedure. After receiving approval from the States and Governors, these recommendations must be reviewed by the Supreme Court collegium before being sent to the Union Law Ministry and ultimately obtaining the President’s endorsement.
During the initial half of this year, there has been a modest decrease in the backlog of legacy cases, attributed to efforts to enhance the efficiency of the judicial system. Nevertheless, the high court is in critical need of additional judges.
