Rekha calls for tighter litigation management in Delhi

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting with officials of the Department of Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs, calling for several reforms to streamline government litigation, strengthen legal representation, and modernise Delhi’s judicial infrastructure.

Joined by Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra, senior bureaucrats, and legal experts, the Chief Minister acknowledged that 4,000-5,000 cases involving the Delhi Government were currently pending in various courts and tribunals.

She emphasised the need to reduce the legal burden on courts, and improve the efficiency of the government’s legal responses.

To address this, Gupta instructed the officials concerned to form expert panels comprising retired bureaucrats and domain specialists to review pending litigation and recommend strategies to eliminate unnecessary cases. The panels will assist in designing systemic reforms for quicker resolution and better case management.

The meeting brought attention to a key gap — the absence of a dedicated Delhi Government legal panel in the Supreme Court, unlike many other states.

Gupta instructed the department to constitute a special panel of senior advocates to represent Delhi in the Delhi High Court, Supreme Court, and tribunals, and explore the formal creation of a Supreme Court panel specifically for the state.

Talking about infrastructure bottlenecks, the CM said there was an ongoing shortage of judicial officers and court space in the national capital. She was informed that three new court complexes — in Shastri Park, Karkardooma, and Rohini — were under construction.

The Chief Minister directed the agencies concerned to expedite their completion, stressing the urgency to bridge operational gaps.

Gupta called for the replacement of outdated pre-Independence laws, such as the Punjab Courts Act, Court Fees Act, and Suit Valuation Act, with updated legislation that aligned with current governance needs. She also flagged the lack of regular review of Oath Commissioners and instructed the officials concerned to ensure immediate action for auditing and updating appointment records.

Highlighting the need for citizen-centric reforms, the Chief Minister praised the role of the Delhi Dispute Resolution Society (DDRS) in promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and reiterated her vision of making Delhi’s legal system technology-driven, efficient, and aligned with modern governance standards.