PUDUCHERRY: Despite the number of pending cases in Puducherry not being very high, there is no improvement in the disposal of old cases, observed N Paul Vasanthakumar, Judge, High Court of Madras.
Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration of the transition of Puducherry legal system from the French legal system, Vasanthakumar, who is also the Portfolio Judge for Puducherry, said 27,139 cases were pending in 20 courts in the Union Territory (15 in Puducherry, three in Karaikal, one each in Mahe and Yanam). Of these, 12,260 were civil cases and 14,879 criminal, he added.
Further, the judge expressed concern at the number of the cases that are pending for a long time even when there was no stay on them by higher courts. Calling for the speedy disposal of long pending cases, Vasanthakumar pointed out that judicial officers were duty bound to take up old cases on priority and appealed to the Bar to extend co-operation for early disposal of the cases.