Chirang (Assam) [India], January 16: The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Assam’s Chirang district has achieved a rare milestone by clearing all pending cases by the end of 2024, setting a significant example in a country where over five crore cases remain unresolved.
This accomplishment stands out against the backdrop of the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), which reports that more than 4.5 crore cases are pending in district and subordinate courts across India. It also marks a departure from the “tarikh pe tarikh” phenomenon, which has long been a challenge for the Indian judicial system due to delays and frequent adjournments.
Speaking to ANI, Nandita Basumatari, Public Prosecutor for Chirang District Court, explained that the CJM court cleared all pending cases by December 31, 2024. She shared that the year started with 143 pending cases, and 687 more cases were added throughout the year. By the end of 2024, a total of 830 cases were disposed of, resulting in zero pendency.
Basumatari highlighted that the disposal rate was 100 percent, with a conviction rate in Chirang District standing at 23.29 percent for 2024, which is higher than the state average of 22.68 percent. December alone saw a remarkable conviction rate of 26.89 percent.
She attributed this achievement to the collaborative efforts of the police, prosecution, defence lawyers, the BAR Association of Chirang, and court staff. Their teamwork and commitment were essential in ensuring timely justice and clearing the backlog.
This landmark achievement in Chirang’s judicial system sets a valuable precedent for other courts in the country, emphasizing the importance of efficient collaboration in delivering swift and fair justice to citizens.