Centre Targets Legacy Court Cases, Asks Ministries, Departments To Explore Mediation

Union Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan has written to Secretaries across Ministries and Departments, asking them to personally monitor pending Supreme Court cases involving organisations under their administrative control and explore the possibility of settling suitable matters through mediation.

In his communication, a copy of which is with The Secretariat, Somanathan said mediation offers a practical, timely and mutually acceptable mechanism for resolving disputes that might otherwise remain tied up in prolonged litigation. He also urged Ministries to extend the exercise to their attached offices, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings.

The move comes alongside a parallel exercise by the Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA) under the Ministry of Law and Justice, which has asked Ministries and Departments to identify legacy cases that can be resolved, closed or withdrawn as part of a more effective litigation management strategy.

According to data maintained by DoLA’s Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS), 14,108 cases involving Central Ministries and Departments are currently pending before the Supreme Court.

The broader litigation burden on the Union government remains substantial. Official data shows that as of March 2026, more than 7.14 lakh cases involving Central Ministries and Departments are pending across the Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts and various Tribunals. Among government litigants, the Ministry of Finance accounts for the highest number of pending cases, followed by the Ministries of Railways and Defence.

The Cabinet Secretary’s letter also highlighted an upcoming initiative of the Supreme Court aimed at promoting alternative dispute resolution. The apex court is organising “Supreme Court Action for Mediated Adjudication and Disputes Harmonisation Across Nation (SAMADHAN SAMAROH)”, under which a Special Lok Adalat will be held on August 21, 22 and 23, 2026, to facilitate the early settlement of suitable pending cases through mediation.

Somanathan informed Ministries that the Supreme Court Registry has already segregated eligible pending cases on a High Court-wise basis to support the settlement process. Simultaneously, the Department of Legal Affairs is preparing Ministry-wise compilations of pending Supreme Court cases, which will be shared with the concerned Departments to assist in identifying disputes suitable for mediation.

The government expects the coordinated exercise to help reduce litigation, improve dispute resolution and ease the burden on courts while enabling faster settlement of long-pending cases involving the Union government and its agencies.