Allahabad High Court Attributes Case Pendency to State Government and Police Failures The Allahabad High Court recently criticized the Uttar Pradesh state government and police for their role in the massive backlog of criminal cases, stating that systemic failures in these institutions are the primary cause of delayed justice rather than judicial inefficiency. In a May 7 order, a bench led by Justice Arun Kumar Deshwal highlighted that severe staff shortages, lack of police cooperation in executing court orders, and delays in forensic reports have hindered the ability of young and dedicated judicial officers to function effectively. The court emphasized that the blame for the pendency of cases in district courts should not solely rest on the judiciary but on the state administration and law enforcement agencies. The observations were made during a hearing on a murder case where investigators failed to conduct DNA analysis on blood found on a recovered screwdriver. The court summoned the Director General of Police (DGP), the Principal Secretary (Home), and the Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to address the lapse. The FSL Director revealed that only eight of Uttar Pradesh’s 12 forensic labs had DNA profiling facilities, and these labs faced chronic staff shortages and outdated equipment. The court noted that the FSL operates under the police department, limiting its administrative and financial independence. The bench argued that the root cause of case delays lies in the state government’s failure to address systemic issues. It pointed out that the inability of police to execute court summonses and warrants, coupled with incomplete or delayed forensic reports, has created a bottleneck in the judicial process.#allahabad_high_court #police_department #uttar_pradesh_state_government #forensic_science_lab #justice_arun_kumar_deshwal
