To decide trial of each case, the Delhi High Court has directed all judges in the lower courts to fix a time limit of 3 years.

This will also help courts to deal promptly with the mounting pendency of cases.

While issuing a slew of directions to improve the disposal rate, the Delhi High Court said, “Each officer must fix a time-frame for each stage of trial (like completion of pleadings, framing of charges, recording of evidence) and must ensure adherence by all concerned.”

“Endeavour shall be made to gradually reduce the average trial period of each case (civil and criminal) to 2/3 years,” DHC added.

The court stated that special focus will be given to "speedy" clearance of cases according to priority including criminal cases involving murder, sexual and economic crimes, cases under the Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substance Act and civil cases linked to custody.

As a suggestion to judges to focus on lessening the pending cases, the court stated, “Each officer must exercise effective control over case list to ensure optimum utilisation of judicial time and resources.”

Aware that there is a tendency among challenging parties to postpone trial, the court has asked judges to guarantee that no suspensions are settled just on the view that the High Court was seized of the matter.

“Adjournments shall not be given liberally unless there are compelling reasons which must be recorded in the proceedings. No proceedings shall be given solely for the reason that there is some petition filed in the High Court concerning the matter,” it said.

The HC also said that the higher judicial services officers should take stock of pending cases on a yearly basis in their courts at the starting of each calendar year and fix a realistic target for themselves which they should appraise after every three months.

The official figure for arrears of criminal cases in sessions courts in the capital as of February 1, 2009, stands at 22,829 which includes 1,766 murder cases. A total of 43,024 civil cases are also pending.

Among the measures, the judicial officers have been asked to remember that they have to settle on at least two murder cases on a monthly basis.