The India Justice Report 2025, released recently with support from Tata Trusts, has revealed startling insights into the state of India’s judicial system. Now in its fourth edition, the report has been compiled in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. It exposes critical gaps in the delivery of justice, with a particular focus on the massive shortage of judges, rising case pendency, and underrepresentation of marginalized groups.
According to the report, India has only 21,285 judges for its population of over 1.4 billion. This translates to just 15 judges per one million people—far below the 1987 Law Commission’s recommendation of at least 50 judges per million. This shortfall of nearly 35 judges per million is one of the major contributors to the overwhelming backlog of cases in courts across the country.
High Courts are currently operating with 33 percent of their positions vacant, while 21 percent of posts in district courts remain unfilled. The shortage has pushed the caseload per judge to concerning levels, with individual High Court judges in states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reportedly handling nearly 15,000 cases. In district courts, each judge is burdened with an average of 2,200 pending cases.
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The report also examines representation and inclusivity within the judiciary. Scheduled Castes make up just 14 percent of judges in district courts, while Scheduled Tribes account for a mere 5 percent. Despite these figures, there has been notable progress in gender representation.
The percentage of women judges in district courts has increased from 30 percent in 2017 to over 38 percent in 2025, signaling a slow but positive shift toward greater gender equity within the judicial system.
In terms of access to justice, the report notes a doubling in government spending on legal aid between 2019 and 2023. Per capita spending has risen to ₹6.46, reflecting increased efforts to ensure legal support reaches those in need. However, experts say this remains insufficient to meet the growing demands of the population and that further investment is essential.
The findings of the India Justice Report 2025 underscore the urgent need for reforms in India’s judicial system. From filling long-pending vacancies and improving judge-to-population ratios, to ensuring inclusivity and reducing caseloads, the challenges are significant. Without timely and effective action, the growing burden on India’s judiciary could severely hinder access to justice for millions.
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