Allahabad High Court Pulls Up UP Govt Over Delay In Creating 900 Additional Courts

The Allahabad High Court has pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government over continued delays in creating additional courts in the State, observing that repeated and “baseless” queries raised by authorities appeared to be aimed at stalling the establishment of even 900 courts despite years of pendency and repeated judicial directions.

A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh warned that if a final decision is not taken by the next hearing on July 8, 2026, the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh along with the Legal Remembrancer would have to remain personally present before the court.

Allahabad High Court flagged UP Govt's "baseless"queries to delay creation of new courts

Court noted that the issue regarding creation of additional courts has been pending in the suo motu PIL since April 21, 2025 and has been repeatedly taken up with several affidavits filed and officials summoned from time to time.

During the hearing, the Legal Remembrancer appeared before the bench pursuant to an earlier order dated April 13, 2026. The State informed the court that the exercise for creation of 900 courts had already been undertaken, but authorities had now raised a query asking why only 900 courts were being created and why 2,693 courts should not instead be established.

The bench reacted sharply to the explanation and observed that even after prolonged delay in creation of 900 courts, authorities were continuing to raise objections one after another. 

“It is surprising,” court observed, that despite the fact that even 900 courts had not been created for a long period, “queries one after the other, which are baseless,” were being raised. The bench further said that the attempt appeared “only to delay the creation of even 900 courts".

What had happened in the earlier April 13 hearing?

In its April 13, 2026, order, the high court had already expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of decision-making by the State government. The bench had granted time to the authorities to complete the exercise relating to creation of courts but cautioned that if a final decision was not taken, the Legal Remembrancer would again have to appear personally before the court.

Court had then questioned the repeated bureaucratic hurdles being raised despite the long-standing concern over inadequate judicial infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. The proceedings stem from the Supreme Court’s decision in Imtiyaz Ahmad v State of UP (2017), where directions were issued concerning judicial manpower and infrastructure to tackle mounting pendency.

What did the court ultimately direct?

Although the bench recorded that the respondents appeared to be seeking time “for no justifiable reasons", it accepted the request of the Additional Advocate General and granted what it termed as “one last opportunity” to complete the exercise.

Court directed that the matter be listed on July 8, 2026 and made it clear that if no final decision is taken by then, both the Chief Secretary and the Legal Remembrancer would have to remain personally present before the court.

Case Title: Suo Motu in the matter of creation of 9149 Courts vs State of U.P. through Principal Secretary Law

Order Date: May 19, 2026

Bench: Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh