Report No. 154

9.3. Review Committee appointed by the Government of India.-

In 1967, the Government of India, greatly concerned at the problem of accumulation of arrears in various High Courts, conducted a review of the state of work in each High Court and found that inadequacy of judges was the main cause of the accumulation of arrears. Government increased the strength of judges in some of the High Courts, taking into account the arrears of cases then pending, fresh institutions and disposals. Though this had some effect, no appreciable result was produced.

At the end of the year 1969, the Government of India constituted a Committee presided over by Mr. Justice Hidayatullah, the then Chief Justice of India, to suggest ways and means for reducing arrears of cases pending in the High Courts. Upon the retirement of Mr. Justice Hidayatullah, Mr. Justice Shah was appointed the Chairman of the Committee. When Mr. Justice Shah retired as the Chief Justice of India, Government requested him to continue as Chairman of the Committee. The Report of the Committee will be referred to in due course.