J&K High Court Launches Evening and Weekend Courts to Clear Case Backlog
The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has launched evening and weekend courts as part of Phases IV and V of its Action Plan for faster disposal of cases. The initiative was inaugurated by Chief Justice Arun Palli, who highlighted that timely justice is essential to strengthen public confidence in the legal system.
Phase IV of the plan will give priority to cases that are more than ten years old and matters concerning senior citizens, women, and other vulnerable groups. It also introduces evening and weekend courts, special arrears sessions, and stronger case management through digital dashboards and monthly performance reviews. Coordination with the Bar and prosecution will also be improved to ensure quicker outcomes.
Phase V will build on these efforts by piloting paperless courts in select districts, boosting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods like mediation and Lok Adalats, and training judicial officers and staff for better efficiency.
The High Court’s Arrears Committee will monitor the progress, with district and sessions judges required to submit monthly reports. Performance will be measured through clear metrics such as disposal rates, reduction of pending cases, and adherence to set timelines.
