Allahabad High Court Blames State Government and Police for Case Pendency

The Allahabad High Court has attributed the significant backlog of criminal cases in district courts primarily to failures by the Uttar Pradesh State government and police, rather than judicial inefficiency. In a recent order, Justice Arun Kumar Deshwal highlighted that young judicial officers are hindered by severe staff shortages, lack of police cooperation in executing summons and warrants, and delays in forensic reports. The observations emerged during a bail hearing in a murder case where investigators failed to conduct necessary DNA matching. The court noted that forensic laboratories suffer from equipment and staffing deficits while lacking administrative autonomy under the police department. Consequently, the bench issued directives to fill forensic vacancies within a year, upgrade infrastructure, and mandate stricter police compliance, including the use of digital systems like e-summons. The court also expressed concern over the safety of judges, noting they often face intimidation without adequate security provisions. Furthermore, it linked case pendency to the rise of criminals entering politics as MPs and MLAs. Ultimately, the court rejected the accused's bail plea, emphasizing systemic reforms needed to restore public trust in the justice delivery system.