Pending Court Cases in India: 2025 Overview

Rank	State/UT	Estimated Pending Cases (2025, Lakh)
1	Uttar Pradesh	117
2	Maharashtra	54
3	Bihar	38
4	West Bengal	32
5	Tamil Nadu	29
6	Gujarat	26
7	Madhya Pradesh	24
8	Rajasthan	23
9	Karnataka	21
10	Andhra Pradesh	18
11	Odisha	17
12	Punjab	15
13	Haryana	14
14	Kerala	13
15	Telangana	12
16	Jharkhand	11
17	Chhattisgarh	9
18	Assam	8
19	Delhi	7
20	Uttarakhand	5
21	Himachal Pradesh	3
22	Jammu and Kashmir	2.5
23	Tripura	1.5
24	Manipur	1.2
25	Meghalaya	1
26	Goa	0.8
27	Arunachal Pradesh	0.5
28	Mizoram	0.5
29	Nagaland	0.5
30	Sikkim	0.3
31	Puducherry	0.25
32	Chandigarh	0.2
33	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	0.1
34	Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	0.08
35	Ladakh	0.05
36	Lakshadweep	0.02

Pending court cases in India, where millions of legal disputes await resolution in High Courts, district, and subordinate courts, highlight a justice system that is struggling to keep pace.

These cases encompass a wide range of issues, from property disputes to criminal trials, resulting in delays in justice for numerous individuals.

This article provides an analysis based on an estimated ranking of pending cases across India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) for the year 2025, detailing the statistics, elucidating the reasons behind significant backlogs in certain states, and examining the underlying problems that are congesting the courts.

The estimates are derived from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) 2024 data, trends from PRS India, and preliminary insights for 2025, as comprehensive data for 2025 will not be available until mid-2026.

The estimate for 2025 anticipates approximately 525 lakh (52.5 million) pending cases across the nation, reflecting a 2% increase from the 2024 figure of 515 lakh (51.5 million), with around 450 lakh cases in subordinate courts and 62 lakh in High Courts.

Uttar Pradesh is at the forefront with 117 lakh cases, followed by Maharashtra (54 lakh), Bihar (38 lakh), and West Bengal (32 lakh).

Tamil Nadu and Gujarat follow closely with 29 lakh and 26 lakh, respectively. Smaller Union Territories such as Lakshadweep (0.02 lakh) and Ladakh (0.05 lakh) exhibit minimal backlogs.

This increase corresponds with the NJDG’s 2024 data and a 1-2% annual rise, according to PRS India, attributed to new filings surpassing the rate of resolutions.

What accounts for the disparity in pending cases among states, with some having millions while others have only thousands? Let us explore the reasons.

Reasons Behind Significant Backlogs in Certain States

Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra

Uttar Pradesh has a staggering 117 lakh pending cases, largely due to its enormous population of 230 million, the highest in India.

A larger population leads to an increase in disputes, ranging from land conflicts to criminal matters.

In 2024, the subordinate courts in UP recorded 105 lakh cases, while the Allahabad High Court contributed an additional 10 lakh, according to the NJDG.

The high volume of filings (15 lakh new cases in 2023) coupled with a mere 10% disposal rate exacerbates the backlog.

Similarly, Maharashtra, with its 54 lakh cases, reflects its status as an economic powerhouse with a population of 120 million. The courts in Mumbai manage 20% of the state’s cases, with commercial disputes and property issues congesting the court schedules.

In 2024, Maharashtra’s subordinate courts reported 48 lakh cases, marking a 1% increase from 2023.

Bihar and West Bengal

Bihar’s 38 lakh cases arise from its 130 million population and intricate social challenges, including caste conflicts and land disputes.

In 2023, Bihar registered 8 lakh new cases, yet the courts only resolved 6 lakh, as per NJDG. The limited number of judges (one for every 1 lakh individuals) hampers judicial efficiency.

West Bengal’s 32 lakh cases are linked to the bustling courts in Kolkata and incidents of political violence.

In 2024, the subordinate courts in the state had 29 lakh cases, with 40% of them pending for over three years, highlighting delays in civil litigation.

Tamil Nadu and Gujarat

Tamil Nadu’s 29 lakh cases are associated with its urban areas, particularly Chennai, where family and property disputes are prevalent.

In 2024, the courts in the state recorded 27 lakh cases, with 30% pertaining to divorce and inheritance issues, according to NJDG.

Gujarat’s 26 lakh cases are indicative of its trade-oriented economy, with commercial disputes arising in Ahmedabad.

The state saw an addition of 5 lakh new cases in 2023, but only 4 lakh were resolved, as the courts face challenges due to a 15% vacancy rate among judges.

Smaller States and UTs

Lakshadweep (0.02 lakh), Ladakh (0.05 lakh), and DNHDD (0.08 lakh) exhibit minimal backlogs attributed to their small populations (Lakshadweep: 64,000) and a limited number of courts.

In 2024, Lakshadweep recorded fewer than 2,000 cases, primarily consisting of minor disputes, according to NJDG. The low crime rates and restricted commercial activities contribute to the low number of filings.

Similarly, Sikkim (0.3 lakh) and Chandigarh (0.2 lakh) experience low case numbers due to their efficient judicial systems and small populations.

What Contributes to the Backlog?

Several elements account for the accumulation of pending cases and the greater challenges faced by certain states.

High Case Filings and Population

India’s population of 1.4 billion leads to a significant number of legal disputes. In 2023, courts recorded 2 crore new cases but only resolved 1.8 crore, according to NJDG.

States such as Uttar Pradesh (15 lakh filings) and Bihar (8 lakh) experience high case volumes due to their large populations and social issues like land disputes, which constitute 60% of civil cases.

Shortage of Judges and Infrastructure

India has merely 21 judges for every 10 lakh individuals, which is significantly lower than the required 50, as reported by the Law Commission. Uttar Pradesh, with 2,000 judges handling 117 lakh cases, operates at 70% of its capacity.

The courts in Maharashtra lack digital resources, which hampers the speed of hearings. In 2024, 20% of subordinate courts did not have e-filing systems, according to NJDG.

Complex Laws and Delays

Outdated laws and new regulations such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2024) contribute to the increase in filings.

In Tamil Nadu, 30% of the cases in 2024 were family disputes requiring multiple hearings.

Adjournments, with 50% of cases delayed more than three times, and strategies employed by lawyers congest the courts. Political cases in West Bengal, with 40% pending for over five years, experience intentional delays.

Low Awareness and Access

In rural regions of Bihar and Jharkhand (11 lakh cases), delays occur due to a lack of legal awareness among the populace.

Only 15% of rural Indians have access to legal aid, as reported by PRS. Smaller Union Territories like Puducherry (0.25 lakh) enjoy better access, which helps maintain lower backlogs.

Are These Figures Trustworthy?

The estimate of 525 lakh is based on NJDG’s 2024 data (515 lakh) and a projected 2% increase for 2025, reflecting PRS India’s annual growth rate of 1-2% and IJR’s forecast of 512 lakh subordinate cases by 2030.

Underreporting (10-15% according to NJDG) and differences in court efficiency (for instance, Delhi’s quicker case resolutions) may distort the figures. The complete data for 2025, expected in 2026, could revise the totals by ±5%.

How Can India Address This Issue?

India requires decisive actions. The eCourts Phase III initiative, which commenced in 2024, intends to digitize half of the courts by 2026, with the potential to resolve 2 million cases each year.

The Supreme Court’s recommendation to recruit an additional 10,000 judges would benefit states such as Bihar.

Awareness initiatives, such as the legal aid camps in Tamil Nadu in 2024 that reached 25% of the rural population, help reduce frivolous lawsuits.

The fast-track courts in Maharashtra, which resolved 10% of cases in 2024, demonstrate potential for improvement.

Source

• National Judicial Data Grid. (2024). Pending cases statistics: December 2024. Supreme Court of India.