Dispensation of justice is turning out to be a time-consuming affair in subordinate courts of Kerala with over 20 lakh cases pending in the State. This includes both civil and criminal cases.
The average rate of disposal of cases in subordinate judiciary during the current year was 1.12 lakh a month. On an annual average, six lakh cases are filed in the subordinate courts in the State.
The subordinate judiciary covers all courts established by law in the State, including the District and Sessions Courts, Chief Judicial Magistrate Courts, Sub Courts, Munsif Courts and Magistrate Courts. All the tribunals, including the Wakf Tribunal, Family Courts, Rent Control Courts and Labour Courts, also come under the subordinate judiciary.
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Besides the cases of civil nature, the subordinate judiciary deals with criminal offences such as murder; attempt to murder; causing hurt and grievous hurts; theft; sexual offences, including offences against women and children; motor accident claims; marital disputes and matters involving monitory consideration.
Till December 31, 2014, a staggering 13.31 lakh cases were awaiting disposal in all the subordinate courts.
During the current year, the number of cases filed has gone above the State average taking the total pendency to over 20 lakh cases.
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The data on the pendency of cases was obtained by The Hindu invoking provisions of the Right to Information Act.
An analysis of the data indicated that there is no noteworthy let up in the situation during last year. That time, the pendency hovered around 13.54 lakh cases.
However, there has been a significant increase in the pendency of cases during 2011 and 2012.
The pendency shot up by over 2 lakh cases during this period as 12.40 cases were awaiting disposal in 2012 against the 10.60 lakh of 2011, according to the data provided by the Public Information Officer of the High Court of Kerala.