Appellate, HC divisions’ rate of case disposal better than lower courts: SC report
The rate of disposing cases by the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court has increased, but disposal of cases by the lower courts has declined in comparison to the number of cases filed in recent months.
A huge backlog of 35,98,263 cases were pending with the courts across the country till June 30 this year after 3,76,778 were disposed of by them between April 1 and June 30, a latest SC report said.
A total of 21,410 cases were pending with the Appellate Division till June 30 this year after 2,210 cases were filed and 2,613 were disposed between April 1 and June 30 this year.
According to the SC report, a total of 4,88,562 cases were pending with the High Court till June 30 this year after 27,107 cases were filed and 45,238 were disposed in these three months (April-June).
A total of 30,88,291 cases were pending with the lower courts across the country till June 30 this year after 3,65,475 cases were filed and 3,28,928 were disposed during this period, the SC report said.
Contacted, Mohammad Saifur Rahman, the spokesman of the SC, told The Daily Star that the rate of disposal of cases by the Appellate and High Court Divisions has increased as Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has taken steps so that old cases are heard and disposed of on priority basis.
Besides, the chief justice and other apex court judges have been continuously monitoring the case management system and dispersion of justice, he said.
Saifur said the SC administration will inquire why the rate of disposing cases by the lower courts has dropped in comparison to the number of cases filed, and will then take necessary steps.
He said there are now seven judges for the Appellate Division, 92 judges for the High Court Division and around 1,819 judges for the lower courts across the country.
Appointment of around 100 judges for the lower courts is underway, he said, adding that if they are appointed the rate of case disposal by the lower courts will increase.