Government litigation forms nearly half of all pending cases in India’s courts, creating massive delays and financial strain. The 2010 National Litigation Policy (NLP), meant to make the government a responsible litigant, failed due to poor implementation and lack of accountability. Experts now urge an urgent review to ensure measurable outcomes and efficiency in justice delivery.

BulletsIn

•  Government responsible for almost 50% of total court cases in India.
•  Over 3 crore cases pending nationwide, many due to government litigation.
•  No reliable government data on exact volume of such cases.
•  Litigation between government departments adds to judicial burden.
•  Government loses in over 90% of the cases it files.
•  Supreme Court has criticized mechanical litigation by the State since 1970s.
•  NLP 2010 aimed to make government a “responsible and efficient litigant.”
•  Policy failed — vague wording, unclear accountability, no monitoring system.
•  Empowered Committees under NLP lack defined roles and transparency.
•  Revised NLP under discussion since 2015; experts seek clear goals, accountability, and periodic impact assessment.