Report exposes systemic inequality in Indian legal system
Caste, gender, and class disparities persist across courts, police, and prisons, highlighting deep flaws in India’s justice system
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — The India Justice Report (IJR) 2025 has unveiled stark disparities within the country’s legal system, highlighting pervasive inequalities across caste, gender, and regional lines.
Despite pockets of progress, India’s judiciary, police, and prisons remain under-resourced and overwhelmed, failing to ensure equal access to justice.
Published by Tata Trusts in collaboration with several civil society organizations, the report evaluates 24 indicators across four pillars: police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid.
Special focus areas include forensic capacity, mediation, and disability inclusion, offering a comprehensive view of justice delivery in India.
India’s judiciary faces an acute backlog, with over 45 million cases pending across all levels.
The nation has only 21,285 judges, or 15 judges per million people, far below the 1987 Law Commission’s recommended 50. In stark contrast, the U.S. has 150 judges per million, while Europe averages 220.
High vacancy rates exacerbate the crisis, with 33% of high court positions and 21% of district court posts unfilled.
District judges handle an average of 2,200 cases annually, with figures soaring to 15,000 per judge in states like Uttar Pradesh.
Gender representation in the judiciary has improved, with women now comprising 38.3% of district court judges, up from 30% in 2017.
However, women hold just 14% of high court positions, and only one woman serves as a high court chief justice.
Caste disparities remain stark. Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) account for only 5% and 14% of district court judges, respectively. Of 698 judges appointed to high courts since 2018, only 37 are from SC/ST backgrounds.
Indian prisons are operating at 118.5% capacity, with some states far exceeding this average.
Uttar Pradesh’s prisons are at 176% capacity, and Delhi’s are at 174%. A troubling 77.1% of inmates are undertrials, disproportionately from marginalized groups.
Muslims, comprising 14.2% of the population, account for 17.4% of undertrials, while SCs and STs together constitute over 32%.
The police-to-population ratio stands at 155 officers per 100,000 people, well below the sanctioned 197.5.
Women make up just 11.75% of police personnel, often relegated to junior roles.
Caste representation in the police is similarly skewed, with SCs and STs underrepresented in leadership roles.
Forensic bottlenecks further delay justice, with over 30,000 cases awaiting analysis.
Uttar Pradesh leads with 11,047 pending cases, reflecting a lack of forensic experts in many states.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Madan B. Lokur described the system as one that burdens individuals rather than supporting them.
“The process of accessing justice is punishing from the very start,” he said.
“Our failure to properly equip and train justice providers fractures public trust.”
While the report acknowledges progress in regions like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, it underscores how systemic inequality and administrative inertia continue to undermine justice for millions of Indians.
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