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.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
