JPI- Judicial Performance Index for Lower Judiciary Suggested by NITI Aayog

(NITI) Aayog has suggested judicial performance index (JPI) to check delay in finalization of cases in lower judiciary. Suggested as part of Three Year Action Agenda (2017 - 20) recommendations for reforms to expedite justice delivery system, particularly lower courts.

Index for Lower Judiciary Suggested by NITI Aayog
  • Nearly 3 crore cases pending for years in lower courts.

Judicial Performance Index (JPI)

  • Index will be performance based on require fixed non-mandatory time-frames for different types of cases.
  • Index՚s indicators will be created to check duration of pendency of case based on current data and percentage of delayed and disposed cases.

Objectives of Judicial Performance Index

  • Establishing JPI will allow tracking of performance and process improvement at district courts and subordinate levels for reducing delay.
  • Provide progress on process steps approved by high courts, like removing burden of day-to-day activity of judges and giving these to administrative officials.

Other Recommendations for Increasing Judiciary Efficiency

Separate Administrative Cadre

  • Establishing separate administrative cadre in judicial system to reduce workload on judges reporting to Chief Justice.

    Use of Automation and ICT

  • Automation in courts and use of information and communication technology for case management and court schedules
  • Migration of all courts to unified national court application software.

    Online Real Time Judicial Statistics

  • Availability of online real time judicial statistics would enable adequacy of judicial work force and infrastructure
  • Priority appointment of judges at lower judiciary levels based on scientific approach to tackle pendency problem.

Internationally Developed Measures

Adopt internationally developed measures such as global measures of court performance, created jointly by Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration, Federal Judicial Center (US) , National Center for State Courts (US) and Subordinate Courts of Singapore.

Examrace Team at Aug 20, 2021