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Efficiency measurement of Indian high courts using DEA: A policy perspective

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  • Gupta, Maansi
  • Bolia, Nomesh B.

Abstract

The Indian judicial system is extensive and plagued by several issues, especially high pendency levels across all levels. The present work has two goals. Firstly, it aims to measure the efficiency of Indian high courts using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Secondly, it studies the impact of including pending cases on judicial efficiency. The first DEA model takes only judicial resources, namely, number of judges and staff members as inputs, and two outputs, viz., number of civil and criminal cases disposed. Since further data analysis reveals a role for using caseload as an input, two more DEA models are developed to incorporate these factors. The first includes the number of civil and criminal cases instituted during the year as inputs, and the second incorporates the effect of both incoming and pending cases. Models 2 and 3 help to distinguish between the courts that are efficient with respect to incoming cases, and those that are able to efficiently manage their total workload. Results identify the specific courts that are efficient in disposing cases, including the effect of their high volume. They point to policy imperatives and overall peer learning, as well as for specific aspects such as dealing with high pendency or fresh institution of cases. Finally, a comparison between these models can help the judicial officials of inefficient courts develop reforms with specific aims such as reducing backlog of cases, matching outflow and inflow of cases, or in some cases, both.

Suggested Citation

  • Gupta, Maansi & Bolia, Nomesh B., 2020. "Efficiency measurement of Indian high courts using DEA: A policy perspective," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 1372-1393.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:42:y:2020:i:6:p:1372-1393
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2020.06.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Falavigna, G. & Ippoliti, R., 2021. "Reform policy to increase the judicial efficiency in Italy: The opportunity offered by EU post-Covid funds," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 923-943.
    2. Jonas Månsson & Christian Andersson & Fredrik Bonander, 2022. "What lessons can be learned from cost efficiency? The case of Swedish district courts," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 431-451, December.
    3. Sila Mishra, 2023. "‘Cyclic syndrome’ of arrears and efficiency of Indian judiciary," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-27, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Judiciary; Data envelopment analysis; Indian courts; Efficiency measurement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • C44 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Operations Research; Statistical Decision Theory
    • C67 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Input-Output Models
    • K40 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - General

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