-Outlook Over two crore cases are pending in subordinate courts in the country which also face a shortage of over 3,000 judicial personnel, a Parliamentary Committee has observed. It termed the high rate of pending cases in subordinate courts in the country a "serious matter". "The Department of Justice (in the Law Ministry) informed that as on March 31 (last year) 2,68,51,766 cases were pending in subordinate courts. "Some of the major reasons for...

-The Times of India MUMBAI: Eight years after the RTI Act was enacted, a reality check reveals that accessing information in most parts of the country is a long wait. While most states do not have enough commissioners and the pendency of appeals has only increased, in several other parts of India, the process of hearing appeals has become non-functional. RTI activist Sunil Ahya, who commissioned the survey by connecting with information...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: At a high-level meeting chaired by law minister Kapil Sibal recently, it was proposed to set up a study by an Indian Institute of Management or a reputed law school to evolve a scientific method of performance appraisal for judges so that laggards are not bundled with performing judges, particularly when they are considered for elevation to the higher judiciary. The matter was discussed at a...

-The Indian Express New Delhi: Days after the December 16 gangrape incident, hundreds of rape cases were sent to special fast track courts for a speedy trial. In fact, in January this year, six newly created special fast track courts for sexual offences received over 500 cases within three weeks of their creation. A year later, the trial in the December 16 case is complete. The case is midway through appeal...

-The Hindu During 2008-10 it was 17.4 per cent in the State against national average of 31 per cent Chennai (Tamil Nadu): The conviction rate in cases of atrocities against SC/STs in Tamil Nadu during 2008-10 was 17.4 per cent. This is very low compared to the national average of about 31 per cent, the Union Home Ministry has submitted before the Madras High Court. The Ministry submitted this in an affidavit in response...