The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice presented its 160th Report to Parliament on March 16, 2026, — focusing on improving the efficiency of the grievance redressal and judicial systems.
The report reflects growth in the government's efforts to modernize administrative processes and ensure timely justice for citizens. Key recommendations include the integration of advanced technology in court proceedings and the strengthening of the CPGRAMS portal to ensure accountability in public service delivery. These measures are supported by a push for judicial transparency and the regular monitoring of pending cases to reduce the burden on the Indian legal framework.
Key Recommendations from the 160th Report
Digital Transformation of Judiciary: Strengthening e-Courts and digital filing systems plays a role in reducing physical paperwork and accelerating the disposal of cases.
Grievance Redressal Accountability: Enhancing the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) to provide real-time tracking and quality feedback for citizens.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Promoting Lok Adalats and mediation as contributing sectors for lowering the backlog in traditional courts.
Judicial Infrastructure: Allocating dedicated funds for the modernization of lower courts, which is supported by standardized audits of physical facilities.
Timely Public Service Delivery: Recommending strict timelines for the resolution of public grievances to ensure better administrative accountability.
Capacity Building: Emphasizing specialized training for judicial and administrative officers to handle complex modern legal disputes.
What is the "CPGRAMS" Portal? CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) is an online platform that allows citizens to lodge grievances against government departments. It acts as a primary channel for public accountability, where grievances are electronically forwarded to the concerned ministries for resolution. The 160th report suggests that improving this portal plays a role in enhancing citizen trust in the government. The portal's effectiveness is supported by a robust monitoring framework that ensures every complaint is tracked and resolved within a specific timeframe, thereby contributing to more responsive governance.
Policy Relevance: Strengthening India’s Governance Framework
Enhancing Judicial Reach: The committee’s focus on the e-Courts project reflects growth in the Department of Justice’s mission to provide accessible and affordable justice to the common man.
Refining Administrative Efficiency: Strengthening CPGRAMS is supported by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) to ensure that the "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" vision is realized.
Bypassing Legal Delays: Prioritizing ADR mechanisms plays a role in easing the workload of the higher judiciary, allowing them to focus on constitutional matters.
Link to Citizen Charter: The report's recommendations serve as a foundational step for ministries to align their service delivery with the national standards of transparency and time-bound resolution.
Follow the Full Release Here: 160th Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice
