Delhi High Court has unveiled a “comprehensive and integrated” Action Plan to systematically tackle arrears, especially cases that have been pending for over 10, 20, or even 30 years. The initiative aligns with the Model Action Plan formulated by the Supreme Court’s Committee for Model Case Flow Management Rules, chaired by Justice Abhay S. Oka, which highlighted mounting concerns over the deepening pendency crisis in High Courts across India.
The Delhi High Court’s blueprint rests on eight foundational pillars:
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Prioritisation of older cases, especially those pending for over a decade.
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Conduct of structured Case Management Hearings.
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Equitable distribution of targeted cases across benches.
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Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and IT tools for automation, defect rectification, and clustering of matters.
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Identification and removal of infructuous cases.
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Promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including special Lok Adalats.
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Involvement of stakeholders, including Bar Associations, to mitigate procedural delays.
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Generation and regular monitoring of progress reports.
Phase I: Preparatory Stage (March 2025 – June 2025)
This initial phase focuses on building the foundation for the plan’s success. The Registry is tasked with preparing detailed lists of “targeted cases” using various criteria such as:
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Cases over 10 and 20 years old.
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Criminal appeals where the accused has been incarcerated without suspension of sentence.
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Statutorily time-bound matters like death references and Section 374(4) CrPC cases.
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Termination and pension disputes.
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Cases expedited by the Supreme Court.
These targeted cases will be submitted to the Chief Justice for equitable allocation. The Joint Registrars will hold mandatory Case Flow Management Hearings on the original side, while respective courts will handle other matters. Every Thursday afternoon has been earmarked for hearings on these priority cases.
A dedicated team of trainee judicial officers will identify infructuous cases, while physical file verifications will be carried out during summer vacations. A Data Unit will function as the “Command Centre” for digital case management, including AI-powered e-filing and data analytics.
Phase II: Implementation Stage (July 2025 – June 2026)
In this year-long push, the Court will aim to dispose of all cases that are more than 20 years old. The hearing schedules will follow the Case Flow Management Sheets with a strict no-adjournment policy. Each court’s Advance List will continuously reflect its ten oldest pending matters, with new cases slotted in immediately upon disposal. Monthly and quarterly progress reports will be compiled and submitted to the Chief Justice, who will also convene quarterly meetings with the Case Flow Management Committee.
Phase III: Consolidation Stage (June 2026 – May 2027)
The final phase will target the disposal of cases pending for more than 10 years, reinforcing the High Court’s commitment to long-term docket clearance and systemic reform.
Source: Delhi High Court Action Plan
