8.8 Lakh Execution Petitions Pending Across Country : Supreme Court Expresses Alarm, Asks High Courts To Ensure Speedy Disposals

The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the alarming pendency of execution petitions across the country, revealing that 8,82,578 execution petitions remain pending before district courts nationwide, despite earlier directions to High Courts to ensure their disposal within six months.

A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Pankaj Mithal was monitoring compliance with its March 6, 2025 order in Periyammal (Dead) Through LRs & Ors. v. V. Rajamani & Anr., which set a 6 month limit to dispose of execution petitions.

The Court described the statistics received from the High Courts as “highly disappointing" and "alarming."

The data compiled from all High Courts shows that Bombay (3.41 lakh), Madras (86,148), Kerala (82,997), and Andhra Pradesh (68,137) are among the jurisdictions with the highest pendency. The Court noted that while 3,38,685 execution petitions were disposed of in the last six months, the backlog remains massive.

The statistics which we have received are highly disappointing. The figures of the pendency of the execution petitions across the country are alarming.

The Bench recorded its displeasure that the Karnataka High Court had failed to furnish the required data, despite explicit directions. The Court directed the Registrar General of the Karnataka High Court to submit an explanation within two weeks and to immediately provide the updated figures on pendency and disposal.

Reiterating its earlier directions, the Supreme Court asked High Courts to ensure effective follow-up with their district judiciary for the disposal of pending execution petitions.

"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 Bench remarked.

Calling upon the High Courts to evolve effective procedures and monitoring mechanisms, the Court fixed April 10, 2026 for the next review of compliance, directing that complete figures on the status of execution petitions ,including those pending on the original side, be furnished before the next hearing.

"We once again request all the 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 Supreme Court Registry has been directed to forward a copy of this order to all High Courts for immediate action.

Case : Periyammal (Dead) Through LRs & Ors. v. V. Rajamani & Anr. | Miscellaneous Application Nos.1889-1891/2025 in C.A. Nos.3640- 3642/2025

Click here to read the order