The Supreme Court of India, in an order dated October 16, 2025, has expressed that the statistics regarding the pendency of execution petitions across the country are “highly disappointing” and “alarming.” A Division Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Pankaj Mithal, while reviewing compliance with their earlier directions, noted that 8,82,578 execution petitions are currently pending in district courts nationwide. The Court has granted a further six-month period to all High Courts to ensure the expeditious disposal of these cases.
The matter arose from a miscellaneous application in the case of Periyammal (Dead) through LRS & Ors. vs. V. Rajamani & Anr. In its principal judgment dated March 6, 2025, the Court had directed all High Courts to collect data on pending execution petitions from their respective district judiciaries and issue administrative orders for their disposal within six months. The original order stipulated that the concerned presiding officers would be answerable to the High Court on the administrative side for any failure to comply.
Pursuant to these directions, the Supreme Court Registry compiled data submitted by various High Courts. The consolidated report revealed that as of the hearing date, 8,82,578 execution petitions were pending. In the six months following the Court’s March 6 order, a total of 3,38,685 execution petitions were disposed of.
The Bench described the figures of pendency as “alarming.” In its order, the Court observed, “As observed in our main Judgment, after the decree is passed, if it is going to take years and years to execute the decree, then it makes no sense and would be nothing short of travesty of justice.”
The Court specifically noted that the High Court of Karnataka had failed to furnish the required data. Taking serious exception to this lapse, the Bench directed the Registry to send another reminder to the High Court of Karnataka to provide the necessary information. The order states, “The Registrar General of the High Court of Karnataka owes an explanation why he has failed to provide us with the necessary information.” The Registrar General has been granted two weeks to submit his explanation.
In light of the substantial number of pending cases, the Court has extended the deadline for disposal. “In view of the above, we grant further six months to all the High Courts to follow up with their respective District judiciary as regards the disposal of the execution petitions,” the order reads.
The Supreme Court reiterated its request to all High Courts “to evolve some procedure and guide their respective District judiciary for effective and expeditious disposal of the execution petitions which are pending as on date.”
The matter has been posted for a further progress report on April 10, 2026. On that date, the Court has directed that it wants “complete figures from all the High Courts as regards the status of execution petitions.” The Bench has also expanded the scope of reporting, requiring all High Courts to furnish information regarding pending execution petitions and their disposal on their original side as well.
The order concluded with a direction to the Supreme Court Registry to forward a copy of the order to all the High Courts for compliance.
