265,840 cases pending in Himachal courts

Justice is still a distant cry in Himachal Pradesh, as 265,840 cases are still pending in the high court and lower courts.

In a written reply to BJP member Suresh Bhardwaj, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, said that 296 of these cases are pending in the high court for more than a decade.

He said 39,616 cases were pending in the high court till December 31, 2014.

The situation is hardly better in the subordinate courts, as 226,224 cases are pending adjudication for more than a decade. This included 134,314 criminal cases.

Seven criminal cases have been pending in the high court for over a decade. Likewise, in the subordinate courts, 6,378 criminal cases, which are more than five years old, have been pending.