Assam courts have 5.75 lakh pending cases, 40 judicial posts vacant
Synopsis
Assam's courts are sitting on 5,75,541 pending cases — nearly 80% of them criminal — even as 40 judicial posts lie vacant and some courts remain non-functional due to infrastructure gaps. With 7,904 undertrial prisoners, including over 1,000 held for prolonged periods, the data laid before the Assembly paints a picture of a justice system under serious structural strain.
Key Takeaways
5,75,541 cases are pending before Assam courts as of 31 May 2026 , comprising 4,61,245 criminal and 1,14,296 civil cases.
Of 486 sanctioned judicial posts , 40 remain vacant ; the government says the filling process is underway.
Assam has 40 fast track courts and 6 Special Courts but no commercial courts .
Lok Adalats disposed of 5,71,226 cases over five years, providing significant relief to the formal system.
As of 13 July 2026 , Assam has 7,904 undertrial prisoners , including 1,049 held for prolonged periods.
Civil case disposals have risen consistently since 2021, reaching 53,348 in 2025, though criminal disposals peaked in 2023 at 3,27,728 .
Assam Law and Justice Minister Sushanta Borgohain informed the state Assembly on Wednesday during the ongoing Monsoon Session that a total of 5,75,541 cases are pending before courts across the state as of 31 May 2026, while 40 judicial posts remain unfilled. The disclosure came in response to a query by senior Indian National Congress (INC) MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar.
Scale of the Backlog
Of the 5,75,541 total pending cases, 4,61,245 are criminal cases and 1,14,296 are civil cases. Against a sanctioned judicial strength of 486 officers, only 446 posts are currently filled, leaving a vacancy rate of roughly 8%. Minister Borgohain told the House that the process of filling the vacant posts is underway.
The Minister also noted that some courts are yet to become operational owing to inadequate infrastructure, further straining judicial access in several parts of the state.
Case Disposal Trends Over Five Years
Official data placed before the Assembly shows a broadly improving disposal record in subordinate courts. In 2021, courts cleared 35,536 civil and 1,46,810 criminal cases. By 2023, those figures had risen sharply to 45,555 civil and 3,27,728 criminal cases — the highest criminal disposal in the five-year period.
In 2024, subordinate courts disposed of 50,483 civil and 2,33,399 criminal cases, followed by 53,348 civil and 1,95,636 criminal cases in 2025. The civil disposal trend has risen consistently, though criminal disposals dipped after the 2023 peak.
Fast Track and Special Courts
Assam currently operates 40 fast track courts and 6 Special Courts across the state. However, the Minister confirmed that there are no commercial courts in Assam — a gap that legal experts and trade bodies have flagged as a barrier to dispute resolution for businesses.
To accelerate cases involving women and children, the state government has deployed several mechanisms: the 181 Women Helpline, Sakhi One Stop Centres, dedicated POCSO Courts, Child-Friendly Police Centres, the Shishu Mitra Helpline, and the e-Courts Project, which has now been rolled out across all courts in the state.
Lok Adalats and Undertrial Prisoners
Lok Adalats disposed of 5,71,226 cases over the last five years, providing an important pressure valve for the formal court system. Despite this, the undertrial prisoner count remains a concern: as of 13 July 2026, Assam held 7,904 undertrial prisoners, of whom 1,049 have been in custody for prolonged periods.
The data underscores a systemic tension — disposal rates are improving, but the stock of pending cases and undertrial detentions suggests the judicial pipeline continues to fill faster than it can be cleared. With vacancy-filling and infrastructure upgrades still in progress, the pace of reform will be closely watched.
Point of View
But combined with non-functional courts due to infrastructure deficits, the compounding effect on pendency is significant. The absence of commercial courts is a particularly telling gap — it signals that business disputes in one of India's strategically important northeastern states must navigate an already-burdened general court system. The undertrial figure of 7,904 — with 1,049 in prolonged detention — is a rights concern that disposal statistics alone cannot address. Lok Adalats are doing heavy lifting, but they are a workaround, not a structural fix.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cases are pending before courts in Assam?
As of 31 May 2026, a total of 5,75,541 cases are pending before courts in Assam, according to official data placed before the state Assembly. Of these, 4,61,245 are criminal cases and 1,14,296 are civil cases.
How many judicial posts are vacant in Assam?
Assam has 40 vacant judicial posts out of a sanctioned strength of 486 officers, with 446 currently filled. The state government has said the process of filling the vacancies is underway.
How many undertrial prisoners does Assam have?
As of 13 July 2026, Assam has 7,904 undertrial prisoners, including 1,049 who have been in custody for prolonged periods, according to information shared with the state Assembly.
Does Assam have commercial courts?
No. Law and Justice Minister Sushanta Borgohain confirmed during the Monsoon Session that there are currently no commercial courts in Assam, which legal experts note is a gap for business dispute resolution in the state.
How many cases did Lok Adalats dispose of in Assam?
Lok Adalats in Assam disposed of 5,71,226 cases over the last five years, providing significant relief to the formal judicial system and helping reduce overall pendency.
