<h3>Overview</h3> <p>Former Supreme Court judge <strong>Justice Abhay S. Oka</strong> warned on 17 April 2026 that the chronic backlog of cases in Indian courts is a direct consequence of the failure to meet the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Judge‑to‑population ratio – the number of judges available for a given population; a low ratio leads to slower case disposal and is a key indicator of judicial efficiency (GS2: Polity)">judge‑to‑population ratio</span> prescribed by the Supreme Court. He urged the bar‑council, law‑societies such as the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Adhivakta Parishad – a national association of lawyers that advocates for legal reforms and monitors judicial administration (GS2: Polity)">Adhivakta Parishad</span>, and governments to press for the target of 50 judges per 10 lakh people, which remains unmet after more than two decades.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>2002 Supreme Court direction mandated a <strong>50 judges per 10 lakh population</strong> ratio within five years.</li> <li>By 2026 the actual ratio stands at <strong>22‑23 judges per 10 lakh</strong>, far below the target.</li> <li>Population growth, new categories of cases and rising filings have amplified the gap.</li> <li>Delays in judicial appointments persist, with government action taking 9‑12 months after collegium recommendation.</li> <li>Data on case pendency is now publicly accessible through the <span class="key-term" data-definition="National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) – an online portal that publishes real‑time statistics on case filings, pendency and disposal across Indian courts (GS3: Governance/Technology)">National Judicial Data Grid</span>.</li> <li>Justice Oka highlighted systemic issues such as prolonged detention of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Undertrial prisoners – individuals kept in custody while awaiting trial, often for years, raising concerns of justice and human rights (GS4: Ethics)">undertrial prisoners</span> and inconsistent bail practices.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>The Supreme Court’s 2002 order remains unimplemented despite the passage of 24 years. During this period, India’s population has risen sharply, yet the number of judges has not kept pace, resulting in a backlog that threatens the credibility of the judiciary. Justice Oka cited a Karnataka case where a lawyer waited over a year for a collegium recommendation, affecting his practice, while another recent appointment was completed in under four months, illustrating the variability in appointment timelines.</p> <p>Infrastructure gaps persist across many districts, with only a few states possessing adequate court facilities. The judge‑to‑population shortfall, coupled with appointment delays, hampers the ability of Chief Justices to attract senior advocates to the bench.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>The issue touches upon several GS papers: <strong>GS 2 (Polity)</strong> – understanding the structure and functioning of the j