Judicial Vacancies and Pending Cases in India

Summary of Judicial Vacancies and Case Pendency in India

1. Judicial Vacancies:

   • Total vacant posts of judges in district courts across India: 4,855.
   • Vacancies in various High Courts: 297.
   • Maximum vacancies in district and subordinate courts:
     • Uttar Pradesh: 1,055 vacancies
     • Gujarat: 535 vacancies
     • Madhya Pradesh: 384 vacancies
   • Allahabad High Court: 60 vacant posts.

2. Pending Cases:

   • Total pending cases in lower courts: 4.80 crore (48 million).
   • Pending cases in the Supreme Court: 90,694 as of December 1, 2025; compared to 70,239 in 2021.
   • Highest number of pending cases in district courts in Uttar Pradesh: 1,13,05,841 cases.
   • Allahabad High Court pending cases: 11,66,971 cases.

3. Responsibility for Filling Vacancies:

   • High Courts and State governments are responsible for filling vacancies in district and subordinate courts.
   • Continuous efforts are being made in collaboration between the executive and judiciary for vacancies in Supreme Court and High Courts.

4. Key Insights:

   • Judicial Overload: The significant number of vacant judicial posts alongside high case pendency raises concerns about judicial efficiency and access to justice.
   • State Disparities: The data indicates disparities in judicial resource allocation and backlog across different states, especially with Uttar Pradesh leading in both judicial vacancies and case pendency.

This overview provides a crucial understanding of the current state of the judicial system in India, highlighting constitutional and administrative responsibilities that could be relevant for examination in law and governance studies.