LAHORE, April 24: More than one million cases are pending in the Lahore High Court and its subordinate courts at present due to increase in litigation and shortage of judicial officers.

According to the Lahore High Court Annual Report, 2003, released here on Saturday more than 900,000 of the cases are pending in the civil courts followed by the district and sessions courts and high court with over 75,000 and 60,000 pendancy.

The report says 1,060,832 cases were pending in the courts in the province on January. A total 1,334,130 cases were filed during 2003 and 1,296,237 were disposed of adding 37,833 to the backlog.

It adds that 75,420 cases were filed at the LHC's principal seat and benches during 2003. They disposed of 79,743 cases and had a backlog of 61,362 cases on January 1.

As many as 338,963 cases were instituted in the district and sessions courts during the last year. The courts were left with a backlog of 75,088 on January 1 after disposal of 330,510 cases during the year.

The civil courts received 906,043 cases last year and were left with a backlog of 905,661 on January 1 after disposal of 873,309.

As many as 7,694 cases were sent to the banking courts. The courts were left with a backlog of 12,925 after disposing of 6,520 cases.

The drug courts received 2,352 cases and was left with 3,000 early this year after disposing of 1,329 cases.

The anti-terrorist court received 764 cases and were left with a backlog of 412 after disposing of 677.

As many as 2,894 new cases were instituted in the labour courts last year. The courts were left with a backlog of 2,384 on January 1 after disposing of 4,149 cases.