The number of vacancies in district and subordinate courts is 382 as per the given table. This has a significantly negative impact as many cases remain pending in the courts. In the course of extended period of cases remaining pending, many litigants die while others suffer as the accused and the criminals get enough time to negotiate and turn the cases in their favour. And as we all know, justice delayed is justice denied.

One must conclude after examining the functions of Indian Judiciary that it plays a critical role in its democracy. It protects the citizens of the country against any possible misuse of authority by the Legislature and Executive.
Moreover, a citizen can go to the Judiciary directly to seek justice in case his/her Fundamental Rights have been violated.
From this, I have learned the value and importance of Indian Judiciary in strengthening the country's democracy besides my personal well-being.

1. The first High Courts were established during the British rule in 1862. They were set-up in the three presidency cities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras.
2. The Supreme Court that we have at present was preceded by the Federal Court of India 
3. The Federal Court of India was established in 1937 during British rule.
4. It was located in the Chamber of Princes in the Parliament House. It was in operation till 1949. 
5. The Supreme Court that we have today replaced that. The Delhi High Court was established in 1966. Now, the country  has one Supreme Court at the top and 24 High Courts.

Before the 1980s, litigation in courts was costly and time-consuming affair. As a result of this, the poor could not afford going to courts and get justice.
The introduction of the mechanism of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by the Supreme Court in early 1980s gave increased access to justice. It allowed any individual or organisation to file a PIL in the High Court or the Supreme Court on behalf of those whose rights had been violated. The legal process was greatly simplified. Now even a letter or telegram addressed to the Supreme Court or the High Court could be treated as a PIL.So, the introduction of PIL was a significant step in ensuring access to justice for all.

1. The appellate system of the Indian Judiciary is one through which an appeal is made in the higher court against the judgement of the lower court if the person is not satisfied with the verdict.
2. In the case 'State (Delhi Administration) Vs Laxma n Kumar and others', the three accused went to the High Court to appeal against the verdict of the Trial Court and later women's organisation appealed against the High Court decision in the Supreme Court through the Indian Federation of women lawyers.

Duties of the government to uphold the Right to Food
(i) All persons should get food.
(ii) No one should go to sleep with a hungry stomach.
(Iii) Persons who are most vulnerable to hunger like the elderly, disabled, widows etc., should get special attention.
(iv) There should not be any death because of malnutrition or hunger.
In 2001, millions of people faced shortage of food due to drought in Rajasthan and Orissa. However, the government godowns were full of grains and even getting wasted. This situation of hunger amidst plenty was not acceptable to people. This sentiment is captured in the poster for 'Right to Food' campaign.

 Laxman Kumar married Sudha Goel in February 1980. On 2nd December, 1980, Sudha died in hospital due to burns. Her family filed a case in trial court.
Witnesses in this case, stated that on the night of 1st December, they had heard her scream and Sudha told them that her husband and mother in law had set her on fire. The trial court, convicted Laxman, Shakuntala and brother-in-law Subhash Chandra and sentenced all three to death. The accused then went to the High Court to appeal against this verdict and it acquitted them. Some women's groups were agitated by this verdict of the High Court and they filed a separate appeal in Supreme Court. The Supreme Court heard the arguments and found Laxman and his mother guilty and sentenced the two to life imprisonment.

The legal procedures take up a lot of time and involve lots of money. Those who cannot afford to put in lots of time and money for getting justice get deprived of it. For poor people especially, the idea of going to court often becomes remote.
The system of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) introduced by the Supreme Court in the early 1980s played an important role in removing this problem. 
Through PIL. any individual or organisation can approach the court on behalf of those whose rights have been violated. From this, I have learnt that now poor people can also have access to justice through PILs. I have learnt how the Judiciary of my country always works toward upholding equality and fairness.