Judicial delays: Experts push for Satyug bill

With nearly 5 crore cases pending across courts in India, legal experts have raised concerns that structural issues within the justice delivery system continue to contribute significantly to judicial delays. The issue was highlighted at a press conference held at the Press Club of India in Delhi, where speakers strongly advocated for the introduction of a proposed “Satyug Bill.”

The proposed legislation seeks to restore the sanctity of sworn testimony and ensure stringent consequences for those who deliberately mislead the judicial system. The experts emphasised that while increasing judicial appointments and digitising courts are helpful, the real challenge lies in holding individuals accountable for false statements under oath.

They argued that without strict action, court backlogs will persist. The issue has already been raised in Parliament and the Supreme Court. Petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay stated that the primary reason behind mounting pendency is the lack of punishment for those filing false complaints.