The idea of justice is at the heart of any democracy. A functioning court system is where this idea comes alive protecting rights, settling disputes, punishing the guilty, and giving the innocent a fair chance to defend themselves. For ordinary citizens, the court is supposed to be the place where wrongs are righted and hope is restored.
Yet in India, the harsh reality is that courts have become symbols of waiting. Files pile up, dates are given, deadlines are missed, and entire lifetimes pass under the burden of unresolved cases. This gap between the promise and practice of timely justice is no longer a secret; it is an everyday experience for millions of people standing in snaking corridors of dusty courtrooms.
Behind every pending file is a person: a widow fighting for her rightful share, a farmer battling a land grab, an undertrial prisoner waiting for bail, or a family torn apart by an unresolved dispute. When courts do not deliver on time, the rule of law becomes an empty phrase, and faith in the system slowly erodes.
“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied!”
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
As of 2024, over 5 crore cases remain pending across Indian courts, from trial courts to the Supreme Court. District courts bear the heaviest burden, with more than 4 crore cases stuck in the system. High Courts have a backlog exceeding 60 lakh, and even the apex court’s docket hovers around 70,000 matters.
These figures are not cold statistics; they represent real people whose lives and futures stay frozen in time. Civil disputes drag on for decades, criminal trials crawl forward inch by inch, and undertrial prisoners languish behind bars for longer than the maximum punishment for the crime.
“A Court Full of Files is a Nation Full of Tears.”
The reasons are layered but painfully clear:
Too Few Judges: India has about 21 judges per million people. The Law Commission once recommended at least 50 per million, a goal we still haven’t met. Vacancies in the district courts and high courts often remain unfilled for years.
Endless Adjournments: Hearings are postponed again and again for trivial reasons. Poor record-keeping, loss of files, and archaic procedures slow things down even more.
The Government: The Biggest Litigator: Ironically, the state itself floods the courts with avoidable appeals and routine matters.
Poor Infrastructure: Many courts lack basic facilities. not enough courtrooms, judges without trained staff, and overburdened prosecutors, all feeding the backlog.
“Justice for All, Delay for None!”
The Human Cost
For litigants, delay isn’t theoretical; it means losing years and sometimes lifetimes. Property disputes drag on until they swallow generations. Families stuck in maintenance or custody fights watch ties fray beyond repair. In criminal cases, crucial witnesses die, memories fade, evidence disappears, and justice turns hollow. As per the National Judicial Data Grid, over 70% of India’s prisoners are undertrials, many of them too poor to afford bail or proper defense.
“Speedy Trial is a Fundamental Right, Not a Fading Dream.”
There’s no lack of effort. Lok Adalats, fast-track courts, evening courts all have tried to ease the burden. The Supreme Court has laid down guidelines to limit adjournments and streamline procedure. Digitisation, e-filing, and video hearings have shown promise.
The new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, tries to set strict timelines for criminal trials. But deadlines mean little without enough judges, staff, and proper courtrooms to make them work.
“Justice hurried is justice buried, but justice slowed is justice hollowed.”
Is There Really a Minimum Time?
In truth, there is no fixed minimum time for any trial in India. It all depends on the judge’s workload, the conduct of parties and lawyers, the complexity of evidence, and the procedural speed. A cheque bounce case under Section 138 NI Act might drag on for 3-5 years. A murder trial can eat up 5-20 years, especially once appeals begin. Property suits easily outlive the original parties.
The Road Ahead
To make justice faster, India needs more than slogans:
- Fill Vacancies: Appoint judges quickly. Keep benches full.
- Upgrade Courts: Build courtrooms, digitise records, train staff.
- Reduce Frivolous Cases: The State should set an example by curbing unnecessary litigation.
- Enforce Deadlines: Judges must limit adjournments and stick to schedules.
- Encourage Settlement: Push mediation and arbitration to resolve disputes early.
“Courts Must Deliver Relief, Not Just Dates.”
Conclusion
A legal system that cannot guarantee timely justice is failing its own foundation. It’s not enough to pass new laws, build fresh statutes, or promise grand reforms on paper the real change lies in making sure that every litigant, no matter how poor or powerless, gets a fair hearing without unreasonable delay. Filling vacancies, modernising infrastructure, investing in judges and support staff, limiting adjournments, and using technology wisely are not luxuries they are urgent necessities. Until then, courts will keep functioning like crowded waiting rooms where hope is postponed from one date to another. When justice comes too late, it often loses its meaning. A civil decree passed after decades cannot bring back lost land or broken relationships. An acquittal after 15 years cannot restore years wasted behind bars. India’s courts are among the world’s busiest. They are also filled with some of the hardest-working judges and advocates. What they lack is not commitment but support, resources, and the political will to fix a broken pipeline. The day this nation gives its courts what they truly need, the dream of a ‘minimum time for justice’ will stop being a slogan and start becoming a reality for every citizen who knocks on the courtroom door.
Contributed by Aditi Kaushik, Intern