Centre Plans Pilot Launch of Evening Courts in Delhi, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh to Reduce Case Pendency

Yugcharan News / 12-11-2026

The Union Government is preparing to introduce evening courts on a pilot basis in Delhi, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh as part of an initiative to address the growing pendency of cases in the Indian judicial system. The proposed arrangement is aimed at increasing the number of hours available for judicial proceedings and providing additional time to hear and dispose of pending matters.

According to a report published by Bar and Bench on November 11, 2026, the Centre is set to establish evening courts in the three regions as a pilot project. The initiative is intended to supplement the existing court schedule by extending working hours beyond the standard daytime sittings.

Under the proposed arrangement, courts that currently function during regular daytime hours would continue their proceedings into the evening for a few additional hours. These extended sessions would be specifically dedicated to hearing and clearing pending cases.

The initiative is expected to create additional opportunities for judicial hearings without limiting the proposal to the conventional court timetable. By making more hours available for proceedings, the government aims to address the challenge of case backlogs and improve the pace at which pending matters are taken up.

Pilot Project to Begin in Three Regions

The proposed evening-court initiative will initially cover Delhi, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The selection of these three regions for the pilot phase indicates that the government intends to test the arrangement before considering its wider implementation.

The pilot model will involve extending the sitting hours of courts that ordinarily operate during the day. Instead of replacing the existing schedule, the proposed evening sessions will provide additional time for judicial work.

The primary purpose of these additional hours will be to hear cases that are already pending before the courts. The arrangement is therefore being presented as a measure focused on reducing the existing backlog rather than changing the regular functioning of the judicial system.

However, the report does not provide further details about the specific courts that will participate, the number of judges or courtrooms involved, or the date on which the pilot project is expected to begin.

Case Pendency Remains the Central Concern

The proposal comes against the backdrop of the persistent challenge of pending cases across India's judicial system. The accumulation of cases places pressure on courts, litigants and the wider justice-delivery mechanism.

When cases remain pending for extended periods, litigants may have to wait longer for hearings and final decisions. Additional court sittings could provide more opportunities to take up matters and utilise judicial time beyond the standard working schedule.

The proposed evening sessions are intended to create a supplementary mechanism for handling pending cases. By extending court operations for a few additional hours, the government hopes to increase the time available for hearings and case disposal.

The effectiveness of the initiative will depend on how the additional sessions are organised and implemented. Factors such as judicial availability, administrative arrangements and the allocation of pending matters could influence the results of the pilot programme.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal Linked to the Initiative

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is associated with the announcement of the proposed initiative. The report identifies him in connection with the government's plan to introduce evening courts in Delhi, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

The reported proposal marks an effort by the Centre to explore additional working hours as one possible approach to addressing judicial delays. The pilot phase is expected to provide an opportunity to assess how evening sittings function alongside the existing daytime court system.

No detailed implementation framework, official timeline or specific targets for case disposal have been provided in the available report.

Wider Implementation May Depend on Pilot Results

The initial rollout in three regions will be important in determining whether the evening-court arrangement can be expanded to other parts of the country. A pilot project allows the authorities to assess the practical functioning of an initiative before considering a broader rollout.

For the proposed system, key considerations are likely to include the availability of judges and court staff, the scheduling of hearings, courtroom infrastructure and the selection of cases to be taken up during extended hours.

The government has not yet disclosed detailed operational guidelines or explained how cases will be distributed between regular daytime sittings and the proposed evening sessions.

The initiative is therefore at the stage of a reported pilot proposal, and its eventual impact will become clearer once the participating courts, schedules and implementation arrangements are formally specified.

If implemented as planned, evening courts could provide additional judicial time for addressing pending matters in the three selected regions. The proposal reflects the Centre's attempt to explore an extended-hours model as part of the broader effort to tackle case pendency and improve the pace of judicial proceedings.