Uttar Pradesh Tops National Chart with 78% of Pending Fast-Track Court Cases, RTI Data Reveals
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A recent disclosure under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has brought the staggering backlog of India's judicial system into sharp focus. According to official data from the Department of Justice, nearly 78 percent of all pending cases in fast-track courts nationwide originate from a single state: Uttar Pradesh. The statistics highlight massive regional disparities in trial efficiency and underscore the immense pressure on specialized judicial infrastructure across the country.
National Pendency Picture and RTI Revelations
The comprehensive data was shared by the Department of Justice in response to an RTI query filed by Noida-based social activist Amit Gupta. As of June 30, the records revealed that over 1.75 million (17.5 lakh) cases were awaiting disposal in fast-track courts across the nation. Fast-track courts are established by respective states and union territories in consultation with high courts to ensure the speedy trial of specific offenses; however, their operational capacity varies wildly across regions. By mid-2026, a total of 884 fast-track courts were functional across 21 states and union territories, operating entirely without central financial assistance.
Uttar Pradesh Leads Backlog While Several States Lack Fast-Track Courts
Uttar Pradesh stands significantly ahead of all other regions, accounting for over 13.74 lakh pending cases locked within its 373 operational fast-track courts. Maharashtra follows distantly in second place with 1.35 lakh pending cases across 117 courts, while West Bengal (93,245), Tamil Nadu (89,703), and Assam (17,145) also report substantial backlogs. In contrast, Sikkim recorded the lowest pendency nationwide, with just 18 cases pending across two functional courts. Meanwhile, metropolitan centers like Delhi maintain 26 active fast-track courts handling a comparatively manageable backlog of 7,385 cases. The report also noted a glaring structural gap, as several major states—including Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland—currently operate zero fast-track courts, raising critical questions about equitable access to expedited justice.
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