Government Urges High Courts to Adhere to Judge Appointment Timelines

The government alerted the Rajya Sabha that high courts frequently miss the six-month deadline to propose candidates for judicial vacancies. As of now, 154 recommendations from various HC collegiums are still pending. Presently, there are 359 vacant high court judge posts, while 205 proposals are underway between the government and the Supreme Court Collegium.

The government has called out high courts for repeatedly missing the six-month deadline to propose candidates for judicial vacancies. On Thursday, it informed the Rajya Sabha that 154 recommendations from various HC collegiums are still pending.

Currently, 359 posts of judges in various high courts are vacant, with 205 proposals received to fill these positions.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply, reiterated that the responsibility to initiate proposals for appointing judges in high courts lies with the respective chief justices. According to June 25 data, the Supreme Court functions at its full strength of 34 judges, while high courts have only 755 judges out of a sanctioned 1,114.

(With inputs from agencies.)