Pending cases: CJI says trial to end within 5 years

With nearly three crore cases pending in Indian courts, Chief Justice of India H L Dattu today said a deadline has been set to ensure that the trial of a case does not go beyond five years.
"We have taken a decision that we will try our best to see that there is no case pending beyond five years. Five years will be the maximum for the old case. Beyond that no. We are trying our best...," Justice Dattu told reporters after a conference of Chief Justices of 24 High Courts and Chief Ministers here.
He was asked whether steps have been taken to tackle the pendency of cases as several of them have been lingering for as long as 20 years.

He clarified that five year deadline means that trial should end within that time. But an appeal in a higher court may take some more time.
Referring to the Supreme Court, he said "my judges are doing the best to see that the maximum life for a case in the court is not more than two years. We are making all efforts, we are taking all effective steps."
He said vacancies in judiciary was a big hurdle to deal with the issue of pendency.