It is true that the Supreme Court, if it commits itself, could significantly reduce the burden faced by the courts. The Supreme Court is the apex court of the country, and all other courts follow its precedent; thus any practice adopted by the Supreme Court should trickle down to the lower courts. Setting precedents such as disposing of frivolous cases easily, restricting adjournments and the time period between hearings (which are often delayed maliciously by one party to avoid a sentence) and cutting down the bureaucratic red tape by encouraging a professional working culture could have a significant impact on the legal system as a whole. Technological advancements should also be utilised to bring efficiency—most recently we saw the Islamabad High Court allowing screening of some cases for transparency. In the same way, technology could be used to further the swiftness of the judicial process as well.
However, this backlog represents more than just a number that could be solved through small initiatives by the fraternity; it is a systematic problem that has ailed the legal system for a long time. The legislature will have to take initiative too to help adjust the judiciary from an institution where lengthy processes were a given.
