Karnataka Leads India in Justice Delivery; High Court Judge Vacancies Persist
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka tops large states in justice delivery in the 2025 India Justice Report.
- One in three High Court judge positions are vacant, with Uttar Pradesh at 50%.
- 45 million cases clog district courts and 6.2 million in High Courts.
- Tahawwur Rana arrested in Delhi for involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
- SC: Unsubstantiated claims insufficient for CBI transfer, reinforcing investigative federalism.
Top Stories
2025 India Justice Report: Karnataka tops large states
On 2025-04-19, the 2025 India Justice Report was published. It reveals that Karnataka retained its top rank among large and mid-sized states in justice delivery, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Sikkim led among smaller states. West Bengal ranked last among large states due to high vacancies and limited investment, despite Uttar Pradesh showing slight improvement in legal aid access.
India Justice Report: High Court judge vacancies persist
The 2025 India Justice Report, published on 2025-04-19, highlights persistent vacancies in High Courts, with one in three judge positions unfilled and Uttar Pradesh reporting a 50% shortage. High court staff vacancies also persist, with Gujarat at 47% and Kerala at 4%, while subordinate courts fare slightly better.
India: Millions of cases clog district, high courts
A report published on 2025-04-19 indicates that 45 million cases are clogging district courts and 6.2 million in High Courts, with 6.6 million district court cases stalled due to unavailable counsel. The 2009 Law Commission suggested reducing judicial vacations and extending court hours to ease backlogs.
Tahawwur Rana arrested in Delhi for Mumbai attacks
On April 19, 2025, Tahawwur Rana was formally arrested by the NIA in New Delhi after being extradited from the United States for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
SC: Unsubstantiated claims insufficient for CBI transfer
On April 19, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that unsubstantiated claims are not enough to transfer a criminal investigation from state police to the CBI, reinforcing investigative federalism. The ruling was delivered in Vinay Aggarwal vs State of Haryana and Others.
Enforcement Actions
Mehul Choksi in Belgian custody over PNB fraud
On April 19, 2025, it was reported that Belgian authorities have Mehul Choksi in custody after his arrest. Choksi is wanted in connection with a case by Punjab National Bank alleging loan frauds.
Overcrowded prisons: Fugitives' defense against extradition
A report published on 2025-04-19 indicates that overcrowded prisons are a perennial problem, which financial fugitives like Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi, and Vijay Mallya use as their defense against extradition. Tamil Nadu performs best in prisons with a 77% occupancy rate, compared to the national average of over 131%.
Judicial Rulings
SC stays Waqf Act provisions until May 5
On 2025-04-19, the Supreme Court temporarily stayed the implementation of key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 until May 5, following an assurance from the Solicitor General, due to concerns about its impact on the Muslim community's rights and the powers granted to revenue officials.
Patna HC grants bail to alleged PFI members
On 2025-04-19, the Patna High Court granted bail to two alleged Popular Front of India (PFI) members accused of planning to disrupt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Patna, citing a Supreme Court ruling and the lack of evidence of terrorist organization membership.
Delhi HC directs streamlining of medical bill settlements
On 2025-04-17, the Delhi High Court directed the Centre and Delhi government to streamline the settlement of medical bills by insurance companies, following a petition filed by Shashank Garg challenging a May 2018 decision.
Delhi High Court: Two more judges to retire
Published on 2025-04-19, two more judges are scheduled to retire from the Delhi High Court later in 2025.
Calcutta HC addresses filmmakers' petitions, interference
The Calcutta High Court matter involving filmmakers' petitions is scheduled to be heard next on May 19, 2025. The court has also criticized a Trinamool Congress leader for interfering with a Kolkata film director's work and restricted the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI) from interfering with independent filmmakers.
Policy Updates
Supreme Court judges commit to asset disclosure
On April 19, 2025, all 33 sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India committed to publicly disclosing their assets on the Court's website to improve transparency and accountability within the judiciary.
Bihar Governor questions Quranic basis of Waqf system
On April 19, 2025, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan questioned the Quranic basis of the Waqf system, criticizing the misuse of Waqf properties and advocating for legislative reforms.
Law Commission of India hiring Legal Consultants
On April 19, 2025, it was announced that the Law Commission of India is advertising for six contract-based Legal Consultant positions. Applications are due within 15 days of the advertisement's publication and should be submitted via email to [email protected].
Crime Beat
Delhi: 17-year-old fatally stabbed in Seelampur
On April 18, 2025, Kunal Singh, a 17-year-old, was fatally stabbed in Delhi's Seelampur area. Delhi Police arrested Zikra, and detained three others. The murder led to protests and a political dispute.