The situation in northeast states was comparatively better with 62,110 pending cases in the Gauhati High Court while in the Sikkim High Court had only 80 cases pending till 2007, the minister said.

Uttar Pradesh had the highest number - over 5.1 million - cases pending in the subordinate courts while Lakshadweep had the lowest with just 156 cases in 2008.

As per the information received from the Registry of the Supreme Court, 50,659 cases were pending in the apex court as of June 1 this year, he added.