The Supreme Court has termed the pendency of more than 8.82 lakh execution petitions in various courts across the country as ‘extremely disappointing’ and ‘worrying’. Execution petitions are petitions filed by a decree holder seeking enforcement of court orders passed in a civil dispute.
A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Pankaj Mithal made this comment while reviewing the compliance of the March 6 order. In its order of March 6, the Supreme Court had directed all the High Courts to direct the civil courts under their jurisdiction to decide on the execution petitions within six months. The court had also made it clear that as per its instructions, the presiding officer would be responsible for any delay in presiding work.
8,82,578 petitions pending, figures ‘extremely disappointing’
The apex court bench said, ‘The figures we have received are extremely disappointing. The figures of pending execution petitions across the country are worrying. As on date, 8,82,578 execution petitions are pending across the country. The bench said that in the last six months from March 6, a total of 3,38,685 execution petitions were decided and disposed of.
Called delay in justice a ‘mockery of justice’
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Pankaj Mithal said in its October 16 order, “As stated in our lead judgment, if it will take years to execute the decree after it is passed, it makes no sense and would be a travesty of justice.” The Supreme Court said that it is once again requesting all the High Courts to evolve some procedure and provide guidance to their respective District Judiciary for effective and expeditious disposal of execution petitions pending as on date. However, the Supreme Court said that unfortunately, the Karnataka High Court has failed to provide the necessary data in this regard.