July 2025: Pendency soars to a staggering 87,000 cases

In July 2025, the Supreme Court recorded a staggering pendency of 87,115 cases. This is an increase of 1911 cases compared to June 2025. The Court saw the institution of 7511 cases and disposed of 5543 cases. 

Pendency from January to July 2025 

Figure 1 below shows the total number of cases pending before the top court for all the months so far this year.

As shown in Figure 1, the Supreme Court started the year with 82,445 pending cases. There was no drastic spike in pendency until May 2025. June saw a break from this pattern, with an uptick of over 3400 cases. We had attributed the increase in June 2025 to the Partial Working Days (PWDs) of the Court, where fewer Benches took up matters. The Court’s PWDs continued for the first two weeks of July, with the Court resuming full functioning only on the 14th. The Court’s inactivity during the first two weeks of the month may have contributed to the increase in pending cases

The numbers this year are unusual, as the trends in past years show that when the Court resumed after summer break in July, pendency typically dropped. For instance, in July 2023, pendency had reduced by 2728 cases as compared to June. Similarly, in July 2024, pendency was reduced by 1437 cases. For instance, in July 2023, pendency had reduced by 2728 cases as compared to June. Similarly, in July 2024, pendency was reduced by 1437 cases.

Highest pendency in July since 2019 

Figure 2 below shows the total pendency in cases during July since 2019. The data up to July 2023 is taken from the Supreme Court’s Annual Report. The July 2025 figure is taken from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).

As seen in the Figure, between July 2019 and July 2025, pendency has steadily increased from 59,291 to 87,115 cases.

The chart shows a significant increase in pending cases between July 2020 to July 2021. This can be attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic when the Court began operating virtually for the first time.

The second significant surge occurred between July 2022 to July 2023. Notably, during this time, the Court started including all diarised matters, including Miscellaneous Applications, Unregistered Matters and Defective matters in the pendency count.

Since 2023, pendency has increased by over 3600 cases in 2024 and over 4000 in 2025. Pendency in July 2025 is the highest recorded pendency in that month in the last six years. 

Constitution Bench Pendency 

Figure 3 below shows the total number of cases pending before five, seven and nine-judge Benches of the Supreme Court as of July 2025.

Figure 3 shows that the pendency of seven and nine-judge Bench matters has remained constant. 

However, it records a reduction in the pendency of five-judge Bench matters by one as compared to June. This reduction is difficult to explain as the Court did not dispose of any Constitution Bench matters in July.

7511 cases instituted, 5543 cases disposed 

Figure 4 shows the total number of cases instituted (filed) and disposed of by the Court so far this year.

As shown in the figure, the Supreme Court cleared more cases than it received in January and February. This led to a drop in pendency in both of these months (see Figure 2). Although more cases were filed, there was no significant disparity between institutions and disposals in March and April. The gap increased in May, June and July, owing to higher institutions and fewer disposals. May recorded the highest number of cases instituted this year, closely followed by July. June saw the least number of cases disposed of by the court as it was working partially. 

Highest institution in July since 2019

Figure 5 shows the total number of cases instituted and disposed of since July 2019.

Figure 5 shows that between 2019 and 2025, the number of cases disposed of in the month of July has exceeded institutions in all years except 2020, 2021 and 2025. This confirms the trend that typically, pendency drops after the Court resumes full functioning in July post-vacation. 

2025 is the only year in which this trend has reversed since July 2023. 

Note: For our pendency, institution and disposal article, we primarily rely on the data provided on the NJDG. We would cross-check the institution and disposal numbers with the Justice Clock. On the fifth of each month, the institution and disposal numbers on both portals would match. This time, the NJDG website and the Justice Clock had a marginal difference in institution and disposal numbers. The Justice Clock showed one less case instituted as compared to the NJDG. It displayed four fewer disposals as compared to the NJDG.