Hyderabad, Nov. 6 -- The recent statement of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) has revealed a judicial system that has abdicated its constitutional duty to the common citizen.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) himself acknowledges that litigants are forced to rush to the Supreme Court for urgent hearings of matters pending in High Courts, raising the question of whether access to timely justice depends on the ability to travel to the national capital.

Vacancies, infrastructure gaps deepen the backlog

With over 65 lakh cases pending in High Courts, nearly 1 lakh in the Supreme Court, and 292 vacancies in High Courts against a sanctioned strength of 1,122, the system is visibly collapsing under its own weight.

The increase in Supreme Cour...