Over 35 lakh cases pending in courts

More than 35.82 lakh cases are now pending with the higher and lower courts across the country, according to statistics placed by Law Minister Anisul Huq in the parliament yesterday.

“The total number of cases pending with the country’s higher and lower courts is 35,82,347 till March 31,” the minister said, in reply to a question from treasury bench MP Habiba Rahman Khan.

The question-answer session was tabled at the beginning of day’s proceedings at the House.

The minister said the government has taken measures like increasing the number of judges and resolving the crisis of court rooms for quick disposal of the huge number of cases.

Anisul said 13.28 lakh civil and 17.25 lakh criminal cases are pending with lower courts. Also, 96,114 civil and 3.17 lakh criminal cases, and 93,107 petitions are pending at High Court Division, he added.

In addition, 14,023 civil and 7,655 criminal cases, and 135 contempt petitions are pending with Appellate Division.

While answering another query from ruling party lawmaker Haji Md Salim, the minister said there are 59,860 cases pending with family courts across the country.

He said the highest 5,509 cases are pending with family courts in Dhaka, followed by 4,643 in Chattogram, 2,165 in Mymensingh, 1,996 in Rajshahi and 1,898 in Bogura.