What Challenges Does India's Judiciary Face? Insights from the New NCERT Textbook

Judicial System Under Scrutiny

New Delhi: The newly released social science NCERT textbook for Class VIII highlights significant issues plaguing the judicial system, including rampant corruption, a substantial backlog of cases, and an insufficient number of judges.

The chapter titled 'The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society' not only outlines the court hierarchy and access to justice but also delves into the challenges confronting the judiciary.

Previous versions of the textbook primarily concentrated on the structure and functions of the courts.

The text notes that corruption is experienced at various levels within the judiciary, particularly affecting the poor and marginalized, thereby exacerbating their access to justice. It emphasizes ongoing efforts at both State and Union levels to enhance transparency and restore public trust in the judicial system, including leveraging technology and taking prompt action against corruption.

According to the textbook, the Supreme Court has around 81,000 pending cases, while high courts have approximately 62.40 lakh, and district and subordinate courts face a staggering 4.70 crore pending cases.

The book also discusses the internal accountability mechanisms of the judiciary and mentions the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for lodging complaints.

Between 2017 and 2021, over 1,600 complaints were filed through this system.

Additionally, the textbook references former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, who remarked in July 2025 that corruption and misconduct within the judiciary undermine public confidence. He stated, 'The path to rebuilding this trust lies in the swift, decisive, and transparent action taken to address and resolve these issues... Transparency and accountability are democratic virtues.'