Supreme Court Criticizes State Officials for Frivolous Litigation
The Supreme Court has recently expressed its dissatisfaction over the increasing trend of frivolous litigation initiated by state officials, emphasizing the unnecessary burden it places on the judiciary.
In a specific case, landowners had initiated execution proceedings before the appropriate authority after the reference court confirmed their award. The executing court subsequently ordered the payment, a decision that was upheld by the Karnataka High Court on January 6. However, this High Court order was later challenged by the State government’s officers in an appeal to the Supreme Court, which has now been dismissed.
Highlighting a broader concern, the Supreme Court has, on multiple occasions, voiced its concerns about the significant portion of government litigation being frivolous, thereby adding to the already heavy workload of judges. In a notable remark last month, Justice Gavai pointed out that
“70 percent of government litigation appeared to be frivolous.”
He further observed,
“70 percent of such [government] cases are frivolous. If Union and States decide, they can address this. We only read in newspapers about litigation policy being considered, but…”
Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, also weighed in on the issue in April, suggesting that the Central government should lean more towards mediation rather than resorting to litigation to resolve legal disputes. He emphasized,
“The motto of the Union government and its agencies should be ‘mediate, not litigate’.”
The Supreme Court’s remarks underscore the need for a more judicious approach by state officials when initiating litigation, ensuring that the judiciary’s time and resources are utilized effectively and not wasted on unnecessary cases.
