Supreme Court judge Justice Hrishikesh Roy on Saturday highlighted that the rising docket explosion is hampering the delivery of both quality judgments and timely justice in the country.

He expressed these concerns while inaugurating a two-day zonal conference titled "Court Dockets: Explosion and Exclusion," organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Academy in collaboration with the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, at SKICC in Srinagar.

The conference was attended by several dignitaries, including Supreme Court judges, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Tashi Rabstan, former Supreme Court judge and Director of the National Judicial Academy, Justice Anirudhha Bose, and other prominent legal professionals from the region.

Emphasising that docket explosion is preventing the delivery of quality judgments and timely justice, Justice Roy said in his inaugural address, "It is a significant concern in a developing country like India, which is the world's largest democracy, with millions of court cases pending at different levels of the legal system." "The grim situation can be felt in matters involving personal liberty of individuals," he said.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy emphasized the need for adopting measures to address the growing challenges posed by docket explosion, highlighting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as an effective tool for improving the administration of justice. 

Justice Anirudhha Bose, Director of the National Judicial Academy, acknowledged that pending litigation remains one of the most widely debated topics in judicial reform. He expressed concern over the reluctance of people to approach the courts, citing delays in case resolution as a major deterrent. Justice Bose expressed hope that the conference would yield valuable insights to tackle these issues and ensure equal access to justice for all.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Tashi Rabstan, stressed the importance of addressing two critical issues central to the effective administration of justice.

"On one hand we face an explosion in the volume of cases with courts overwhelmed by an ever-growing backlog. On the other hand we see the issue of exclusion, where many marginalised groups are unable to access justice effectively, creating a profound challenge for equity and fairness in the legal system," Justice Rabstan said.

Justice Tashi Rabstan highlighted that these challenges are not confined to any specific region or jurisdiction but are prevalent nationwide and even globally. He pointed out that the mounting pressure of rising caseloads not only delays justice but also undermines the quality and integrity of the judicial process.  

Justice Rabstan further emphasized that the conference seeks to explore practical solutions to streamline court procedures, enhance efficiency, and ensure the legal system remains accessible to all citizens, irrespective of their socio-economic background.