Beyond numbers

Raising the strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37 is too modest to substantially clear the backlog of cases (Front page, May 18). Even if it is increased to 100, nothing will improve. The need of the hour is fixed timelines, better case filtering, fewer unnecessary adjournments, greater use of technology, and judicial reforms rather than just increasing the number of judges. People want not just justice, but quick justice.

Kshirasagara Balaji Rao,

Hyderabad

The decision may offer temporary administrative relief, but it is unlikely to cure the deeper institutional malaise. Pendency is not merely a problem of numbers; it is a problem of judicial architecture. Former judges and legal scholars have repeatedly pointed to procedural delays, indiscriminate admission of appeals, prolonged constitutional hearings, and the Court’s transformation into a routine court of error rather than a constitutional court. Even with four additional judges, fresh filings may continue to outpace disposals. What India perhaps needs is structural reform — regional benches, stricter filtering of Special Leave Petitions, greater use of technology, and stronger High Courts. Without rethinking the court’s role and functioning, expansion alone risks becoming an endless arithmetic exercise.

Gopalaswamy J.,

Chennai

Poor maintenance

The recent fire incident on the Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express has once again raised concerns about passenger safety and the condition of coaches used on this prestigious train. Introduced in 1969, the Rajdhani Express was one of Indian Railways’ premier long-distance services. However, it is disappointing that many coaches now appear old and poorly maintained. I travelled in the first air-conditioned coach of this train a couple of years ago and experienced water seepage in the washroom and wash areas, clearly reflecting ageing infrastructure and inadequate upkeep.

While the central government and Indian Railways continue to introduce new trains under different categories, insufficient attention appears to be given to replacing ageing coaches in flagship services such as the Rajdhani. Passenger safety, comfort, and maintenance standards should never be compromised on trains carrying thousands of passengers over long distances.

S. Subhash,

Kayamkulam, Kerala