The Government has asked the judiciary to undertake another drive to reduce pending cases before them. In a communication sent to the Chief Justices of High Courts, the Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid suggested that the target during their drive between July to December this year, should be on the disposal of all cases which are over five years old. Mr Khurshid has urged the Chief Justices that focus on disposal of cases of the marginalised sections of the society and under-trials should continue as before. He has also pointed out that substantial funds are available at the disposal of the state governments out of the grants sanctioned under the 13th Finance Commission. He said, these can be utilised for creation of special courts and Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centres for achieving the reduction in pendency. According to an official release, Mr Khurshid is scheduled to formally launch this year's drive from Karnataka High Court tomorrow followed by another drive from Bombay High Court.

AIR Correspondent reports that Mr Khurshid's communication to the High Court was in response to the success of the first pendency reduction drive undertaken between July and December last year. There has been a net reduction of six lakh cases in sub-ordinate courts at the end of 2011, reversing the earlier trend of increase in pendency by about five lakh cases from the end of 2009 to the end of 2010. More importantly, there is a significant reduction of nearly one and a half lakh pending cases relating to senior citizens, minors, disabled and marginalised sections of the society, who are more vulnerable in case of a prolonged litigation.