Indian Courts often decide the outcome of a dispute in the first few days through interim orders. The main dispute can take years thanks to high ‘pendency’ or case arrears in most courts. Pendency increased with the advent of Covid-19, leading to a side-effect described as the ‘pendency pandemic’. Simultaneously, new technology-based reforms and solutions emerged as India realigned itself for virtual hearings, digitised records, online filing and even the somewhat-controlled broadcast of court proceedings. The result may yet be work-in-progress.

This panel will examine the future of Indian litigation, whether a commercial case can be fast-tracked, the risk of innocent undertrials awaiting justice and the prospects of expedited dispute resolution over the next few years. The panel will also explore solutions and advocate best practices for achieving faster adjudication.