Budget 2019: Reforms in lower judiciary can further improve India's ease of doing business, says Economic Survey

India's continued improvement in the ease of doing business index has been widely recognised. The Economic Survey points out the lacunae that exists in the lower judiciary impedes the further improvement in the doing business index.

"Delays in contract enforcement and disposal resolution are arguably now the single biggest hurdle to the ease of doing business in India and higher GDP growth," the Survey said.

The Survey says that there is a 87.5% of pending cases in the district and subordinate courts. It recommends that the policymakers should focus on faster clearance of cases at the lower judiciary level.


"The study found that 100 per cent clearance rate can be achieved by merely filling out the vacancies in the lower courts and in the High Courts (even without the productivity gains)," the Survey said.

The Survey names the states of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal that need special attention in terms of improving the state of lower judiciary.

The Survey also puts out some suggestions which have earlier been recommended by experts which include back end reforms in administration of courts, using technology like eCourts Mission and the increasing the number of working days.