Supreme Court Justice Sundaresh on Saturday expressed concern over the mounting backlog of cases in courts, saying both punishment and prevention are central to the justice system, but preventive measures are not being effectively pursued.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new two-storey court building at the Asthampatti integrated court complex in Salem district, he said 4.81 crore cases are pending across the country. Of these, 4.18 crore cases are stuck in district courts, including 3.50 crore criminal cases.
Justice Sundaresh said faster disposal of cases pending in district courts requires coordinated efforts by the government, lawyers and judges. He added that the system should not be limited to securing convictions alone, warning that the absence of effective prevention could push future generations down the same path.
He noted that new court infrastructure such as the Salem facility—built at a cost of Rs 59.43 crore and inaugurated along with Madras High Court Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari—can support quicker case disposal.
Addressing the event, Chief Justice Dharmadhikari said the judiciary and the Constitution serve as a protective shield for people, likening it to iron gaining strength when forged in intense heat.
