Over 5 lakh cases stuck in Indian tribunals—what's going on?
India's special tribunals, set up to deliver quick justice, are now buried under more than 5.24 lakh pending cases.
Debt recovery tops the list with 2.5 lakh cases waiting, while customs and tax disputes add tens of thousands more.
The result is significant delays in resolving cases in these key areas.
Staff shortages are slowing things down
A big reason for the pile-up: nearly one in five tribunal positions is empty, including key leadership roles like chairpersons in major tribunals.
With 93 out of 518 member seats vacant, there just aren't enough people to keep things moving.
How is the government responding?
The Law Ministry says it's working to fill vacancies and tackle complex cases.
Tribunals are also turning to tech—like e-courts and hybrid hearings—and making sure senior citizens' cases get priority.
There's a push for better training too, but for now, the backlog remains a big challenge.