New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has expressed deep concern over the massive backlog of execution petitions pending across district courts nationwide. A recent review revealed that 8,82,578 execution petitions are yet to be disposed of, despite previous directions to clear them within six months.
A Bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Pankaj Mithal were monitoring compliance with its March 6, 2025 order in Periyammal (Dead) Through LRs & Ors. v. V. Rajamani & Anr., which mandated timely disposal of execution petitions.
Disturbing Pendency Statistics Across States
The data compiled from all High Courts highlighted alarming pendency figures:
- Bombay High Court: 3,41,000 pending petitions
- Madras High Court: 86,148 pending petitions
- Kerala High Court: 82,997 pending petitions
- Andhra Pradesh High Court: 68,137 pending petitions
Although 3,38,685 petitions were disposed of in the last six months, the backlog remains massive, prompting the Supreme Court to term the situation as “highly disappointing” and “alarming.”
Karnataka High Court Under Scrutiny
The Bench expressed displeasure over the Karnataka High Court’s failure to submit required pendency data, directing its Registrar General to provide an explanation within two weeks and furnish updated figures immediately.
The Court reiterated that delayed execution of decrees is a travesty of justice and emphasized the need for effective monitoring by High Courts to ensure district courts dispose of cases efficiently.
Supreme Court Directs High Courts for Effective Monitoring
The Court directed all High Courts to:
- Implement strict follow-up procedures with district judiciary
- Develop monitoring mechanisms to track pending petitions
- Submit complete figures, including cases pending on the original side, by April 10, 2026, for the next review
“This is a call for High Courts to guide their respective District judiciary for effective and expeditious disposal of pending execution petitions,” the Bench stated.
