BHUBANESWAR: Even as more than 12 lakh cases are pending in Orissa High Court and lower courts, the State level empowered committee constituted as per the State Litigation Policy has met only once during the last five years.
The State Litigation Policy was formulated in 2011 to bring down the number of Government cases in different courts. The empowered committee presided by the Chief Secretary met on October 18, 2011. However, it is yet to meet again.
Meanwhile, cases continue to pile up in different courts pointing towards the fact that the policy failed to have any impact. While 1,69,453 cases are yet to be disposed of in the High Court, 10,64,039 cases are pending in different lower courts. Sources maintained that 4,65,261 cases are pending for more than five years till December 31, 2015.
The cases pending in the High Court include 65,007 civil and 16,455 criminal which are more than five years old. Besides, in the lower courts, 66,469 civil and 3,17,303 criminal cases are pending for more than five years.
According to official sources, 68,715 civil and 3,33,208 criminal cases were filed in different lower courts in 2015. Besides, 62,000 cases are pending in Odisha Administrative Tribunal.
Aim of the litigation policy was to create a feeling among people by demonstrating that the State is an efficient and responsible litigant, reasonable in its approach in respect of grievance of a person. The policy wanted the State to focus on the core issues involved in litigation to address them squarely and in time. The cases were also needed to be managed and conducted in a cohesive, coordinated and time-bound manner. Besides, the policy was formulated to ensure that good cases are conducted in a manner to become successful and not to pursue the bad cases needlessly.
The policy required each department to prepare a list of litigation pending in different courts and tribunals to be reviewed by the empowered committee. Where a grievance is continuing for a long period, the committee will suggest ways to redress the grievance and expedite the final disposal.
The empowered committee had also been empowered to dispose of cases by compromise in appropriate cases by safeguarding the interest of the State.
Court blues for govt
The Policy was formulated in 2011 to bring down number of Govt cases in different courts
The empowered committee formed as per the Policy has met only once during the last five years
While 1,69,453 cases are yet to be disposed of in the High Court, 10,64,039 cases are pending in different lower courts
4,65,261 cases are pending for more than five years till December 31, 2015