by atlas mídia
The 73-year-old court possesses the authority to nullify executive actions, parliamentary laws, and constitutional amendments. It can independently initiate cases, appoint "friends of the court" for assistance, and establish expert panels to aid in its decision-making process.
Currently, 34 judges have to deal with a very large load of almost 70,000 appeals and petitions, making about 1,000 judgments every year.
According to an exhaustive data-driven account called "Court on Trial," the court is facing a crisis despite its significant authority and power. One of the main reasons for this crisis is the large backlog of cases, which leaves litigants in limbo and imposes financial burdens on them.
The work of the three law scholars reveals compelling findings from five distinct datasets, based on over a million Supreme Court cases.
On average, cases in the Supreme Court took approximately 13 years and 6 months from initiation in trial courts to final disposal. The Supreme Court's proceedings accounted for about a third of the total time, similar to the average duration at each level of the judiciary.
Case durations varied widely, ranging from over four years to as quick as three months for resolution. Tax matters were the most time-consuming, taking around four years on average, and had a significant impact on the exchequer.