Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Seeks Nationwide Data on Commercial Courts
The Supreme Court wants to know how many business-related cases are waiting in courts across India.
It also wants information about the buildings, staff, and other facilities available to those courts.
The request follows concerns that there are too few commercial courts and that some lack proper infrastructure.
The Indian Commercial and Arbitration Bar Association brought the issue before the court.
Some high courts have already sent reports.
Other high courts have been given more time to respond.
The court also wants to know how quickly commercial cases are increasing in each state.
This information may help the court decide whether more commercial courts are needed.
The Supreme Court sought updated nationwide data on pending commercial cases and court infrastructure.
The data will help assess the need for establishing additional commercial courts.
Gauhati and Uttarakhand high courts have submitted compliance reports, while Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh said theirs would follow.
The Patna High Court received two weeks to submit its report, while five other high courts were directed to respond within two weeks.
The court also asked the Indian Commercial and Arbitration Bar Association to compile state-wise litigation growth and estimate additional court requirements.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, several high courts, and the Indian Commercial and Arbitration Bar Association are involved.
- What
- The Supreme Court sought updated data on commercial-case pendency, the number of commercial courts, and their infrastructure.
- When
- The request was made at a Thursday hearing; the court referred to data through January 31, 2025, and sought updates through January 31, 2026.
- Where
- The data concerns commercial courts and high courts across India.
- Why
- The court is assessing whether additional commercial courts are needed amid rising commercial litigation and reported infrastructure shortages.
- Petitioner
- Indian Commercial and Arbitration Bar Association
- Data requested
- Commercial-case pendency, number of courts, and available infrastructure
- Earlier data date
- January 31, 2025
- Requested update
- At least through January 31, 2026
- Reports submitted
- Gauhati and Uttarakhand high courts
- Additional time
- The Patna High Court received two weeks to file its report
- Unrepresented high courts
- Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Telangana, and Tripura