‘Delay in cases is not shameful’, replies Delhi HC to a RTI query
12 Apr, 2013The data obtained in a reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act had revealed the problem of pendency of cases in the Delhi High Court. The reply also had the list of oldest cases pending with the high court. The reasons for pendency of original suits since 1972 were looked into by the court administration.
The RTI reply had also revealed that the court is yet to put in place a model case flow system for the management of cases and their prioritization into Track I - Track IV as advised by Supreme Court in 2005.
Based on the reply, another application was filed with the Delhi high Court asking whether accountability has been fixed for the delays and who should be held responsible for it.
The reply from the registrar general's office states that there are a variety of reasons for pendency of cases ranging from non prosecution of a suit, awaiting reports, to parallel mediation proceedings. The reply further states that as litigants are “not in a hurry” and as the lawyers take frequent adjournments, cases are delayed for decades. The reply also states that the delay “is not shameful” and that it cannot be attributed to the court.