Over 55,000 cases pending in apex court as of 16th December 2023
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Supreme Court of Pakistan, the top court of the country has disposed of 859 from 17th September 2023 to 17th December 2023, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to a quarterly report issued by the apex court, the number of pending cases before the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan is more than 55,000 as of 16th December 2023.
The report, issued under Article 19-A which guarantees the right to information, read that the number of pending cases was 56,503 on 17th September 2023 and dropped to 55,644 on 17th December 2023. The SC disposed of 859 cases in the three months.
The apex court is issuing a quarterly report for the first time under Article 19-A. “Access to information is the right of every citizen under Article 19A,” the SC maintained.
The report has brought to light a significant increase in the number of pending cases in the judicial system. While criticism often mounts over the surge in pending cases, the complete picture is not always presented, report said.
In 2013, there were 20,116 pending cases, a figure that climbed to 21,272 in 2014, as detailed in the report.
The trend continued with 25,681 pending cases in 2015 and a further increase to 29,941 in 2016.
The report revealed that in 2017, the number of pending cases reached 35,608, and by 2018, it had surged to 38,197.
The upward trajectory continued, reaching 43,008 in 2019 and 46,902 in 2020.
The year 2021 witnessed a significant spike, with pending cases reaching 54,000, as outlined in the report.
In 2022, there were 52,424 pending cases, and the numbers climbed to 55,971 in 2023, according to the latest report.
The apex court 's report not only included statistics on pending cases but also provides detailed insights into the overall functioning and performance of the judiciary.
Yesterday, Qazi Faez Isa, Chief Justice of Apex Court talked about Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan which gives freedom of the press, and Article 19-A of the Constitution which gives every citizen the right to information.
Justice Isa also read the Supreme Court judgment in his tenure which gave the right to information to a citizen who filed a petition about employees of the Supreme Court of Pakistan including female staff. He also told the audience not to blame anyone based on a misunderstanding.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa vowed to formulate a “comprehensive policy” on fixation of pending cases and formation of benches.