Across India’s high courts, tax disputes have piled up alarmingly — over 12,000 cases have seen no hearing for more than a decade
Nearly half of all high court cases have been pending for over five years, revealing a chronic bottleneck in India’s justice system
With over ₹16.6 trillion locked in disputed tax claims, delays are not just legal hurdles — they are economic risks
Lack of dedicated tax Benches, frequent judge transfers, and vacancies deepen inefficiencies, slowing both fairness and revenue flow
Smaller firms suffer most — prolonged disputes strain finances, stall credit access, and deter investment in the wider economy
Expanding dedicated Benches, streamlining tribunals, and improving taxpayer engagement are essential to restore trust and efficiency
Clearing the backlog is no longer just judicial housekeeping — it’s an economic necessity for a rule-based investment climate