Evening Courts to be launched in Delhi, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh by 2026

To reform the country's judicial system and reduce the burden of cases pending for years, the Central Government is set to undertake a new and significant initiative. According to a report by 'Aaj Tak', the Central Government is on the verge of completing preparations to launch 'Evening Courts' for the first time in the country as a pilot project. Delhi, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh have been selected for the first phase of this scheme. As per the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, the project aims to be implemented by the end of the year 2026.

Under this new arrangement, the courts that are currently operating regularly during the day will now also operate for additional hours during the evening. The primary objective is to make the judicial process faster and facilitate easier access to justice for common citizens. The government believes that keeping courts open in the evening, in addition to regular working hours, will significantly accelerate the disposal of pending cases. This arrangement will prove particularly helpful for those who face difficulties in attending court during the day due to their work or other responsibilities. Evening hearings will make it more convenient for working individuals and other professionals to pursue their cases.

The government is also considering engaging the services of retired judges to run this scheme smoothly. The appointment of retired judges is expected to provide major assistance in the hearing and speedy disposal of cases during the additional hours. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice has made all preparations for the implementation of this project. The performance and results of these Evening Courts, starting as a pilot project, will be closely evaluated by the government. The government will pay special attention to how many cases the courts can complete hearing during the additional hours and how much efficiency it brings to the judicial process.

Based on the experiences and results of this pilot project, the government will take a final decision regarding the implementation of this arrangement in other states of the country in the future. The broader objective of this initiative is to make the judicial process more accessible and transparent, so that common citizens do not have to wait for long for justice. Currently, preparations for this project are well underway, and the outline for its implementation in the concerned states has been prepared.

In the Indian judiciary, the functioning of courts has generally been limited to fixed hours from morning to evening. Complaints regarding delays in the judicial process due to the increasing burden of cases over the years have been constantly arising. In earlier times too, various committees had given suggestions for judicial reforms, including discussions on increasing the working hours of courts. This new initiative is considered a major step in that direction, aimed at increasing the efficiency of the judicial system. If this project succeeds, it could prove to be a significant change in the history of the Indian justice system, which will speed up the disposal of millions of cases and make the judicial process more accessible to the public.