Centre spent over Rs 561 crore in court cases in last eleven years: Report
'Over seven lakh cases still pending'
New Delhi: The Union government has spent a staggering Rs 561.08 crore on litigation over the past 11 years, even as 7.18 lakh court cases involving various ministries and departments remain unresolved across the country.
Among ministries facing litigation, the Ministry of Finance leads with 1.93 lakh cases, followed by Indian Railways with 1.15 lakh cases and the Ministry of Defence with 96,526 cases. At the other end of the spectrum, the Ministry of Cooperation has just one case pending, followed by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (3), Panchayati Raj (13) and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (17), as reported by Deccan Herald on Monday.
This data was presented to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice earlier this year, during its examination of the Ministry of Law and Justice’s Demands for Grants for 2025–26.
Within two weeks of the panel tabling its report in Parliament, the Ministry on April 4 issued the ‘Directive for the efficient and effective management of litigation by the Government of India’ to prevent “unwanted” litigation, minimise “unwarranted” appeals and address “inconsistencies” in notifications and orders to reduce caseload, added DH.
The Parliamentary committee report revealed a fluctuating trend in litigation-related expenditure over the years. In 2014–15, the government spent Rs 26.64 crore, which increased steadily to Rs 65.83 crore by 2017–18. A slight dip occurred in 2018–19, with spending reduced to Rs 51.85 crore. This was followed by another increase in 2019–20 to Rs 61.08 crore. During the pandemic years of 2020–21 and 2021–22, expenditure fell to Rs 58.43 crore and Rs 48.56 crore respectively.
However, costs began rising again post-pandemic, reaching Rs 57.45 crore in 2022–23 and peaking at Rs 66.57 crore in 2023–24—the highest in the past decade.
For the current fiscal year (2024–25), Rs 39.06 crore has already been spent by December 31, 2024.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Deve Gowda extends full support to decisions taken by PM to punish perpetrators of terror attack
Bengaluru (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday said that he and his party-- JD(S) -- extend full support to the decisions that will be taken by PM Narendrra Modi and the central government to punish the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack and those behind them.
The JD(S) patriarch said that politics should not be mixed in this matter and everyone should "extend the support of unity" to the decisions taken by the PM and the Centre.
"Regarding the Kashmir incident, the central government will take a decision. For the first time terrorists have indulged in such a violent act on tourists. The government has information in its hands that the terrorist attack was carried out with the support of Pakistan," Gowda said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the entire country and its 140 crore people have said in one voice that they will support the action that will be taken by the central government under the leadership of PM Modi.
"I as a citizen, as the President of JD(S) which is part of the NDA and a member of Rajya Sabha, along with our Minister in the cabinet H D Kumaraswamy and our party's floor leader and MP Mallesh Babu have said that we extend full support to all decisions that will be taken by the central government on this matter," he said.
India has turned up the heat on Pakistan with what is seen as retaliatory measures after the carnage in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead.
Responding to a question about whether he received any call from the PM following the incident, Gowda said he had not received any call, and if need be, he would share his opinion in writing.
To a question on discussions about war and his opinion on waging a war against Pakistan, Gowda said he cannot say as of now as to what will happen in the future, and the PM will take a decision depending on the situation, and the entire country has faith in it.
"Modi's leadership is respected by the entire country and around the world. Several countries and its leaders, including US President Donald Trump, have condemned the incident and have extended support for India," he said.
Further stating that politics should not be mixed in the issue, the former PM said everyone should "extend the support of unity" to the decision taken by the prime minister.
"We should show our unity. Such incidents should not happen in the future for any reason. The perpetrators should be found and punished and those behind it should also be punished. In this regard what decision the PM, Defence Minister and Home Minister takes, my party and I are committed to it," he added.
Asked about some Congress leaders trying to mix politics in the issue and his advice to them, Gowda said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge has already said that his party will stand by the prime minister.
"As a senior leader, what he (Kharge) has said has value. I don't want to say more. I think Congress' cooperation is also there," he added.
_vb_99.jpeg)
