Central Idea

On September 14th, the Supreme Court of India took a monumental stride by incorporating its case data into the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).

What is the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)?

Comprehensive Repository: NJDG stands as a comprehensive online repository, housing orders, judgments, and case particulars from a vast network of 18,735 District and subordinate Courts and High Courts.
Real-time Access: This platform is an integral component of the eCourts Project, providing real-time updates and in-depth data down to the Taluka level.

E-Courts Initiative: NJDG was conceived as part of Phase II of the e-Courts project, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme designed to modernize the Indian judiciary.
Collaborative Effort: The National Informatics Centre (NIC) collaborated closely with the in-house software development team of the Computer Cell at the Supreme Court to bring NJDG to fruition.
User-Friendly Interface: NJDG boasts an interactive interface and an analytics dashboard, ensuring accessibility for legal professionals and the general public.

Monitoring and Management: NJDG serves as a potent tool for monitoring and managing case backlogs, ultimately alleviating the burden of pending cases.
Supreme Court’s Example: Analyzing data from the Supreme Court in 2023, it reveals a total pendency of 64,854 registered cases, with 5,412 new cases received and 5,033 cases disposed of in the last month. This underscores that the backlog primarily consists of legacy cases, managed at a rate comparable to the annual influx of new cases.
Identifying Bottlenecks: NJDG aids in identifying specific bottlenecks in the judicial process. For instance, a surge in land dispute cases in a particular state prompts policymakers to consider strengthening relevant laws.
Insights from the Chief Justice: Chief Justice Chandrachud noted that year-wise pendency data indicates the Supreme Court has less than a hundred cases pending from before 2000, allowing the Chief Justice to prioritize the resolution of the oldest cases.
Specialized Insights: NJDG also facilitates the generation of insights into specific areas of law. For instance, it links Land Records data from 26 States with NJDG to track land dispute cases effectively.