Over 4.6 crore cases pending in lower courts, Centre tells Rajya Sabha

Over 4.6 crore cases are pending in various lower courts across India, the Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (July 31, 2025).

There are 86,723 cases pending in the Supreme Court, while 63,29,222 cases are pending in various High Courts across India, the Minister said in a written reply to a question raised by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi N.V.N. Somu.

The data on the pending cases was obtained from the National Judicial Data Grid, the Minister said.

“As per information received from the High Courts, 865 Fast Track Courts are functional across 21 States/Union Territories as on 30.06.2025,” Mr. Meghwal said in the Rajya Sabha.

Fast Track Courts have disposed 76,57,175 cases till date, whereas 14,38,198 cases are currently pending with them.

There are 488 Gram Nyayalayas or village courts notified across the States, of which 331 are operational.

Gram Nyayalayas ensure speedy and easy access to the justice system in rural areas. The legislation for it was passed in Parliament in 2008.

“As per data available on the Gram Nyayalaya (GN) portal, 5,39,200 cases were registered in the GNs during the period from December, 2020 to June, 2025. During the same period, GNs disposed of 4,11,071 cases. As on 30.06.2025, the number of cases pending with GNs is 1,28,129,” the Law Minister stated.