Over 50,000 cases pending in 46 courts in Dakshina Kannada

A total of 54,151 cases were pending in 46 courts in Dakshina Kannada as of December 31, 2025. Of them, 32,801 were criminal, and 22,070 were civil cases.

As per statistics released by the Dakshina Kannada district judiciary, 55,555 cases were pending in courts as of January 1, 2025. The courts disposed of 5,808 cases in 2025, of which 4,446 were criminal, and 1,362 were civil. More cases were added during 2025, taking the tally to 54,151 cases by year’s end.

Among the courts, the 5th Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court, Mangaluru, had the highest pendency — 3,454 criminal cases. At the start of 2025, the number of pending cases stood at 3,404.

The next is the Principal Civil Judge and JMFC Court, Puttur, which had a pendency of 3,342 cases, of which 2,576 were criminal, and 766 cases were civil cases. This pendency was slightly less than 3,345 cases pending in the court at the start of 2025.

The lowest pendency of cases was at the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Fast Track Sessions Court (FTSC)-2 (POCSO), Mangaluru, with 143 cases. This pendency was slightly less than 157 cases at the start of 2025.

At the other POCSO court, Additional District and Sessions Judge, FTSC-1, Mangaluru, the pendency was at 246 cases. This was fewer than 256 cases pending at the start of 2025.

Of the remaining seven district and sessions courts, 782 cases were pending in the Principal District and Sessions Court, followed by 513 cases in the first Additional District and Sessions Court. 1,069 and 1,026 cases were pending in the second Additional and third Additional District and Sessions Courts, respectively. 278 and 1,026 cases were pending, respectively, in the fourth and sixth Additional District and Sessions Courts. 1,351 cases were pending in the fifth Additional District and Sessions Court in Puttur.