SC clears 11,136 Appellate cases in 8 months

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has recorded a significant breakthrough in reducing its case backlog, disposing of 11,136 cases between January 1 and August 31, 2026, which substantially outpaced the number of new filings.

During these eight months, a total of 9,139 new cases were filed with the top court, meaning disposals exceeded incoming cases by 1,997. The division completed the disposal of these cases over 132 working days, averaging around 84 cases a day.

The pace marks a sharp surge compared with previous annual figures. The Appellate Division disposed of 6,859 cases in 2021, 5,406 in 2022, 5,349 in 2023, 5,312 in 2024, and 7,553 in 2025, according to a media release signed by Supreme Court Public Relations Officer Md Shafiqul Islam on September 13.

While the court averaged roughly 6,096 disposals annually over those five years, it settled nearly double that average in just eight months this year.

Monthly figures show a consistent pace of disposal throughout the period. The division settled 2,705 cases in January, 2,724 in February, 1,107 in March, and 1,321 in April. It further disposed of 638 cases in May, 1,321 in June, 687 in July, and 633 in August. Consequently, total pending cases in the Appellate Division fell from 41,551 at the start of 2026 to 39,554 by August 31, reflecting a direct reduction of 1,997 cases.

The development comes as part of broader Supreme Court efforts to reduce case backlogs and ensure faster justice for litigants.

The High Court Division also registered a sharp rise in case resolution, disposing of 87,596 cases during the first eight months of 2026, compared with 55,756 cases throughout all of 2025.

Additionally, a special High Court bench formed in June to expedite serious criminal matters has already disposed of 22 death-reference cases, prioritising cases involving violence against women and children.