Tamil Nadu Allocates Rs 2,486.49 Crore for Justice Administration in 2026-27

The Tamil Nadu Government has allocated Rs 2,486.49 crore for the Administration of Justice under Demand No.3 in the revised budget estimate for 2026-27. The figures were presented in Chennai through the Administration of Justice Policy Note 2026-27, tabled by C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar, Minister for Energy Resources and Law.

The allocation includes Rs 449.28 crore classified as charged expenditure and Rs 2,037.21 crore as voted appropriation. The policy note stated that the State’s principal objective is to ensure impartial, easy, and speedy access to justice while strengthening the judiciary with adequate buildings, manpower, and infrastructure.

According to the policy note, Tamil Nadu currently operates 1,378 subordinate courts, which include 328 special courts. Of these, 150 courts function in Chennai district and 1,228 in other districts. Against a sanctioned strength of 1,403 judicial officers in the subordinate judiciary, 1,196 are currently working, leaving 207 posts vacant. These vacancies comprise 100 district judges, 28 senior civil judges, and 79 civil judges.

The Madras High Court has an approved strength of 75 judges but is currently functioning with 66 judges across its Principal Seat in Chennai and the Madurai Bench. At the Principal Seat in Chennai, civil case pendency declined from 1,51,203 in 2021 to 1,10,139 in 2025, while case disposals rose from 59,192 to 79,654 in that period.

The State has 20 exclusive Pocso special courts in operation, with six additional courts sanctioned for Chennai, Tenkasi, Erode, Tiruppur, Tiruchirappalli, and Kallakurichi yet to begin functioning. Tamil Nadu also operates 10 mahila courts, 22 fast track mahila courts in the cadre of District Judge, 32 Additional Mahila Courts in the cadre of Judicial Magistrate, 42 family courts, and five exclusive special courts for NDPS Act cases in Chennai, Madurai, and Villupuram.

Additionally, the Tamil Nadu Judicial Academy, headquartered in Chennai with regional centres at Madurai and Coimbatore, was allocated Rs 11.66 crore for 2026-27. The State also earmarked Rs 41.78 crore for legal services authorities across 38 district bodies and 202 taluk committees.

The policy note reiterated the State's demand to permit Tamil as an official language in Madras High Court proceedings and renewed its call for a permanent regional Bench of the Supreme Court to be established in Chennai.