What it means
にかかっている expresses that an outcome, decision, or situation depends on a particular factor. The factor is marked by に, and the construction commonly appears with a topic such as は to identify what is dependent. It often presents the factor as decisive or influential, and it can sound more formal and analytical than a simple statement that something is important.
Usage note
Do not confuse にかかっている with the progressive meaning of かかっている in contexts such as a phone call being in progress or a picture hanging on a wall. In this construction, the preceding noun is the determining factor, not the thing affected by an ongoing action.
How to use it
成否は審査委員会の判断にかかっています。
The success or failure depends on the judging committee's decision.
成否は審査委員会の判断にかかっている。
The success or failure depends on the judging committee's decision.