India’s Supreme Court has expressed deep concern over the country’s long-standing failure to address the critical shortage of judges, emphasizing the dire consequences of an overwhelmed judiciary. Despite a 2002 directive aiming to achieve a judge-to-population ratio of 50 per million by 2007, the current ratio in 2024 still languishes below 25 per million.
Reflecting on this shortfall, the Court stressed the immense pressure placed on judicial officers, which often leads to errors in judgments. A bench consisting of Justices Abhay S. Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih delivered these remarks while expunging personal criticism against a Sessions Judge made by the Delhi High Court.
“Judges, regardless of their rank, are not immune to mistakes,” the bench noted, underscoring the importance of judicial restraint when critiquing the personal conduct of judicial officers. The Court warned that public reprimands not only harm individual judges but also erode confidence in the judicial system.
The judgment highlighted the extraordinary stress faced by judges managing ever-growing caseloads, exacerbated by inadequate staffing. “After delivering several sound judgments, a judge may err under pressure. Higher courts are equipped to rectify such errors without resorting to personal censure,” the bench observed, urging the judiciary to focus on systemic reforms rather than punitive measures.
The Court’s lament underscored the growing gulf between population increases, escalating litigation, and stagnant judicial resources—a chasm that continues to undermine the nation’s quest for timely justice.
