Backlog in SC decreased during last four months

The backlog which stood at 53,964 on January 31 has been now reduced to 52,796, SC statement

ISLAMABAD:

Despite three vacant posts of Supreme Court judges, pendency in the apex court has decreased as it has disposed of 1182 cases during the last four months in its bid to clear the backlog.

According to a statement issued by the SC, the backlog which stood at 53,964 on January 31, 2022, has been now reduced to 52,796.

“As per statistics, a total of 6509 cases were instituted in this court during the period from 1st February 2022 to 31st May 2022 while 7691 cases were disposed of during the same period,” the statement read.

It added that corresponding numbers for the same period for the year 2021 stood at 7603 and 3730 respectively showing an increase of 3873 cases in pendency.

“The current strength of honourable judges in Supreme Court is 14 against sanctioned strength of 17, compared to 16 during the same period last year."

The average disposal of cases per day was 96 against an average institution of 67 cases per day while the corresponding numbers for the previous year, during the same period, were 54 and 81 respectively.

Despite working at the strength of 14, the average disposal per judge during the said period of four months was 549 compared to 233 for the same period in the previous year

"From 31st December 2013 onwards, the backlog in this court has increased from 20,517 to 53,560 on 31st December 2021. The annual increase in pendency ranged between 1087 in the year 2014 to 7,203 in the year 2021,” it further shared.

The last four months have seen a decline in pending cases for the first time since December 31, 2013, the statement issued by SC said.

Advocate Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar, who closely monitors the workings of the apex court, termed the drop in the pendency “a good and optimistic sign”, adding a strong resolve and commitment has been shown by the top judiciary to address the issue of pendency and delay in decisions of cases.

"The recent steps by SC has not only declined the list of pendency of SC but has increased the numbers relating to disposal and decisions of cases in Supreme Court compared to the previous months," he added.

Khokhar further said that the efforts to reduce pendency should continue and stressed that the three vacant seats at the SC should be filled urgently.

“The apex court must appoint at earliest the best lawyers of the high courts according to the criteria laid down in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution,” he suggested.

The lawyer also underscored the importance of utilising digital technology for timely fixations and decisions of the case.

According to constitutional experts, the strength of judges in the Supreme Court was last increased in November 1997 through the Act of Parliament which states that the number of judges of the top court other than the CJP shall be sixteen.