Over 12.95 lakh cases pending in courts in Odisha

Odisha government today said 12,95,281 cases including 1,69,453 in Orissa High Court are pending in the state.
Replying to a written question, Law Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo informed the House that while 1,30,3748 civil cases were pending in the High Court, the number of criminal cases awaiting disposal were 38,705.
As many as 10,64,039 cases are pending in different lower courts across the state, he said, adding while 2,63,878 civil cases awaited disposal in lower courts, the number of criminal cases was 8,00,160.
Apart from cases pending in the High Court and lower courts, 61,789 petitions are also waiting in tribunals, Sahoo said, adding the highest number of 47,872 cases need to be disposed in Cuttack Tribunal.

The state government, the Minister said, favours reducing the number of cases through mutual understanding and attempts were being made to resolve disputes in Lok Adalats.
"If the cases are disposed through mutual understanding then the burden on courts will certainly come down," he said.

Sahoo said the state government has taken a policy for early disposal of cases in different courts.
The minister, however, could not give specific reply on the pending cases of the state government in the High Court and Supreme Court.
"We have sought information from different departments for ascertaining the exact number of cases filed on behalf of the state government," the Minister added.