Chief Justices to discuss resolution of pending cases

New Delhi, Aug 13 (ANI): A two-day annual conference of Chief Justices of various High Courts will begin here from tomorrow.

The meeting will be presided over by Supreme Court Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan. Justice B.N. Agrawal and Justice S.H. Kapadia, the other two senior-most apex court judges will also attend.

Issues like expediting the disposal of cases, to improve the justice delivery system and demand for more budgetary allocation for the judiciary will figure prominently at the meet.

According to an agenda note, at the end of 2008, the arrears of civil and criminal cases pending disposal in the various High Courts were 38,74,090. Out of which, 31,03,352 are civil and 7,70,738 criminal cases.

In subordinate courts, the total pendency at the end of 2008 was 2,64,09011. Out of which, 1,88,69,163 are criminal and 75,39,848 civil cases.

Other issues like the progress made in setting up of evening/morning courts, strengthening of vigilance cells; computerisation of courts, holding of courts in jail by every Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate or Metropolitan Magistrate of the area on regular basis to take up cases of undertrial prisoners and to consider increasing the ratio of appointments to High Courts from among judicial officers to 50 per cent of the Judges' strength of the High Court concerned instead of the present one third are expected to be discussed.

The conference will culminate with a meeting of chief justices and chief ministers. (ANI)