1. Non-execution of Warrants

The failure to execute a warrant in a timely manner constitutes a significant violation of constitutional protection and statutory requirement. Such non-execution undermines the integrity of judicial process and the rights of affected parties. Non-execution may arise from administrative neglect, resource shortages or deliberate inaction. Due to initiation of Warrant Management System (WMS) portal, different warrants, such as bailable warrants (B.W.), non-bailable warrants (N.B.W.), distress warrants (D.W.) and warrants for the recommitment of convicts could be instantly transmitted to different Police Stations across the State. That apart it was found easy for real-time tracking of warrants issued to different Police Stations. The most significant aspect is that the warrant issuing Courts and the executing agency i.e. police can monitor the progress of execution of warrants issued to different Police Stations. At the end of the year, 2025, 15,883 warrants have been issued, out of which 1392 warrants have been executed, 640 warrants were recalled and 13851 warrants are yet to be executed.

2. Judge-population ratio

As against pendency of 1,58,519 cases in the High Court, there are presently 19 Judges against the strength of 33 Judges. Two Judges were appointed in the current year. One Judge was retired upon attending the age of superannuation and one was transferred. The per Judge Case load at present is 8343 cases.
So far as the District Courts is concerned, there were 840 Judicial Officers at the beginning of the year 2025. During the year 07 Judicial Officers superannuated and 03 Judicial Officer resigned. 33 Judicial Officers in cadre of Civil Judge (Junior Division) joined in the service due to fresh recruitment. The per capita case load was 2332 cases at the end of the year.
The judge-population ratio is 1: 47619 (Total No. of Judges/Total population).

3. Docket explosion

The reports data on pendency, particularly in Civil and Criminal matters, invites critical reflection. Districts with protracted backlogs warrant targeted interventions, as delays erode public confidence in the judiciary.The total pendency of cases (both Civil and Criminal) was 19,20,825 at the beginning of 2025, which increased to 20,13,139 at the end of December 2025.The total pendency of civil cases at the beginning of the year 2025 was 3,16,057 and it came down to 3,03,917 at the end of December 2025 with 113.40% CCR (Disposal/Institution x 100).

However, the cases in criminal side increased from 16,04,768 at the beginning of the year 2025 to 17,09,222 at the end of December, 2025 with 83.46% CCR.

While 87,584 civil cases were instituted in the year, 2025 and 99,317 cases were disposed of. In the criminal side, 4,70,187 cases were instituted in the year 2025 and 3,92,395 cases were disposed of. The more institution of criminal cases is due to filing of 51,694 cases under the Motor Vehicles Act. As such, 100% or more CCR could not be achieved in the criminal side. However, despite all odds, the judgeship of Boudh, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Sonepur have achieved more than 100% CCR.

1,71,636 judgments (Civil and Criminal) have been delivered till December 2025 in comparison to 1,57,593 judgments delivered in 2024.

4. Loss of court working hours

Loss of court working hours is one of the important factors contributing delayed justice. In the year 2021, 25 working days were lost in the High Court due to reasons such as, abstention from court work on strike by lawyers and suspension of court hours due to death of their colleagues and other issues and demands. The corresponding figure of loss of working days due to the above reasons is 15.69 for the District Courts. In 2022, 3118 working hours (reference – 1,537; leave /official tour = 1,395 and Covid-19 – 185) out of 23,736 working hours were lost in the High Court.

[Working hour =Total working hour per day (5 hours 15 minutes) x No. of working days x working strength of Judges]

Likewise, the cumulative loss of court working hours of the District Courts lost in the State during 2022 was 2,22,447, primarily due to cease work, picketing and strike by lawyers.

[Working hour =Total working hour per day (6 hours) x No. of average loss of working days x average working strength of Judicial Officers in the State]

In 2023, the loss of court working hours in High Court is 2009 hours and in District Court it is 19.37 hours. In 2024, the loss of court working hours in High Court is 1644.875 hours and in District Court it is 55.275 hours. In 2025, the loss of court working hours in High Court is 1881.025 hours and in District Court it is 142.3 hours.

5. Disposal of year-oldcases

A primary focus of the annual report pertains to the disposal of cases and the persistent issue of pendency. The Pendency of year-old cases is a headache for the system. 4,637 cases in the category of 25– 40 years old were pending at the beginning of the year 2023 which was reduced to 2,169 at the end of the year 2023 and 1,984 at the end of December 2024. In 2025, pendency of 25–40 years old cases were further reduced to 1798 at the end of the year.
Similarly, 32 cases in the category of 40 years old were pending at the beginning of 2023, which was reduced to 26 at the end of 2023. However, pendency of 40-year-old cases has increased to 36 and 41 at the end of the year 2024 and 2025 respectively.

The pendency of more than 25 years old cases is being monitored by the Administrative Judges monthly. Besides, these cases are also monitored by the State Court Management System (SCMS) Committee of the Court in conformity with the directions of the Supreme Court of India imparted in Action Plan for Arrears Reduction in District Judiciary (APAaR-DJ). The rate of disposal of year-old cases have been consistently increased.
Various steps are being taken to reduce the burden of the year-old cases. Virtual interactions at regular intervals are being held with the district judiciary to monitor the progress of the year-old cases. Targets are fixed on the quarterly basis. Necessary instructions were imparted during District Judges Conferences. The Administrative Judges holding interactions with the judicial officers at the time of inspection of District Courts and fixed targets for the Judicial Officers to prioritize year-old cases for time bound disposal.

6.Infrastructure
Introspection extends to infrastructural adequacy, with the report detailing court rooms, residential accommodations and library resources. The integration of technology- e-filing, virtual hearings and case management systems marks a progressive stride. In recent years, significant attention has been made towards enhancing the infrastructure of the district judiciary. In 2025, 5 Nos. of Taluk Court Buildings and construction of 13 Nos. of residential quarters for judicial officers has been completed.

Besides, foundation stone for 34 nos. of new projects were laid.

To ensure consistency in the design of residential and non-residential buildings of the judiciary throughout the state, Model Plans for the construction of Taluk Court Buildings, Dedicated Bar Association hall-cum-Canteen, Residential Quarters for Judicial Officers and Staff, Creche for Judicial Officers, Refreshment room for Judicial Officers and Staff, Parking Shed and Transit House have been formulated and adopted.
In order to address the financial requirements for the ongoing and new infrastructural projects of the district judiciary of the State, budget allocations are being made under two distinct schemes: the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and the State Sector Scheme (SSS).

Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)

Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) has been introduced and implemented by the Government of India since the financial year 1993-94 for infrastructural development of the Judiciary to augment the resources of the State Government. Recently, the Central Government have been pleased to extend the Scheme till the F.Y.-2025-26.
Under the CSS, the fund sharing pattern is in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and the State of Odisha, i.e. 60 % of the funds are to be released by the Central Government while the commensurate State share of 40% are to be provided by the State Government.

Construction of Lawyer Halls, Digital Computer Room, Toilet Complex besides Court halls & residential units for Judicial Officers have been incorporated in the Action plan of the CSS having 105 number of projects adhering to the guidelines enumerated in Letter No. J-11017/01/2017/e-file 4175 or 2314 dated 19.08.2021 of the Ministry of Law & Justice (Department of Justice), Government of India.

Funds to the tune of Rs. 85.80 Crore (Rs. 51.48 Crore as Central Share + Rs. 34.32 Crore as State Share) have been allotted during the financial year, 2024-25 under the CSS out of which Rs.20 Crore (Rs. 12.00 Crore as Central Share (Mother Sanction) + Rs. 8.00 Crore as State Share) in toto have been received in two phases under SNA-SPARSH Model during the last quarter of FY, 2024-25 i.e. for the period from January to March, 2025. All the funds so received have already been utilized for infrastructural development of the District Judiciary in this financial year by following the guidelines framed by the Ministry of Law & Justice (Department of Justice) and the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure), Government of India.

Further, funds to the tune of Rs. 38.20 Crore (Rs. 22.92 Crore Central Share (Mother Sanction) + Rs. 15.28 Crore State Share) have been received in three phases under SNA-SPARSH Model in the first three quarters of the financial year, 2025-26 under the CSS. In addition, a fresh Mother Sanction (4th phase) amounting to Rs. 7.65 crore was issued by the Government of India in December, 2025; however, the corresponding state share has not yet been sanctioned by the State Government. In total, 105 number of projects have been included in the Action Plan, 2025-26, out of which, 26 Nos. of new projects have been accorded with administrative approval by the Court under the Scheme during this period.

State Sector Scheme (SSS)

The funds are being provided every financial year under the State Sector Scheme (SSS) for infrastructural Development of the State Judiciary, which are fully funded by the State Government.
Budgetary Provision of Rs. 40,00,00,000/- (Rupees Forty Crore Only) was made for development of infrastructural facility for the District Judiciary under State Sector Scheme of Programme Expenditure out of the Supplementary Budget during the financial year, 2024-25.

Further, a proposal for funds to the tune of Rs. 301,69,26,611/- (Rupees Three Hundred One Crore Sixty-Nine Lakh Twenty-Six Thousand Six Hundred Eleven only) was sent to the State Government under Annual Budget for the financial Year, 2025-26 for the purpose of infrastructure development of the District Judiciary. Subsequently, funds amounting to Rs. 278,24,26,611/- (Rupees Two Hundred Seventy-Eight Crore Twenty-Four Lakh Twenty-Six Thousand Six Hundred Eleven only) has been approved by the Government of Odisha, Home Department under the Annual Action Plan, 2025-26.

In total, 139 Nos. of new projects of the District Judiciary have already been accorded with administrative approval by the Court under this Scheme during the year, 2025.

Repair/ Renovation/Improvement and Maintenance of buildings pertaining to the District Judiciary-
In order to meet the needs of repair/ renovation/improvement and maintenance of the existing infrastructure of the District Judiciary, the State Government have allocated Rs. 90,00,00,000/- (Rupees Ninety Crores only) for fulfilling the requirement of repair/ renovation/improvement of the infrastructure of the District Judiciary of the State in the financial Year 2025–26, the details about the allocation funds to the respective Executing Agencies for the completion of the approved revenue nature projects till the end of December, 2025 are as follows: