Some 972,019 criminal m¬en have remained pending with vatious courts in the county for more than five years, Law Minister Anisul Hue told Parliament on Tuesday. Of them, 253,832 eases are pending with various courts under the district judgeships, and the rest 718,187 cases remained pending with chief metro¬Pell.n magistrate/ ehienn¬dicial magistrate coons, he said replying to a starred tabledquestion of Rersul 5.05 lakh civil cases are now pending with the courts, the Law Minister informed. In reply to anoth¬er started question of Bazlul Hague Flamm Mhalakati-N, he mid that increasing the retirement age of thelowercoutiudges to 62 years is now under consideration of the govern-ment following a dimdive of the higher court.