SC asks states to consider plea bargaining to reduce pendency of cases

In an endeavour to reduce pendency of cases, the Supreme Court on Monday urged the State governments to consider plea bargaining.

The Apex Court's three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and comprising of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud made the statement while hearing a 98-page petition filed by retired Army officer, Anil Kabotra which sought a direction from the Law Ministry to take effective steps to reduce pendency of cases from 15 years to three years and to take appropriate measures to implement the National Litigation Policy.

The petition also seeks a direction to the Secretary General to plan the annual calendar in a way that the courts function at least 225 days per year and six hours per day till the pendency of cases is reduced to three years.

Kabotra, in his petition also sought that advocates shall not be appointed as the judge in the same High Court where they have practiced or where any of their blood relative is practicing as a counsel.

Getting speedy justice and trial is the fundamental right of every citizen and is also the fundamental requirement of good judicial administration, the petition claimed.