As of November 1 , about four out of 10 judicial posts in India’s higher courts were empty. There are 406 vacancies across 25 High Courts a...
As of November 1, about four out of 10 judicial posts in India’s higher courts were empty. There are 406 vacancies across 25 High Courts and the Supreme Court, out of a total strength of 1,098 judges. On October 1, the number of vacancies was 471.
The 65 new appointments over the last month were made after Chief Justice of India NV Ramana went public with the urgent need to expedite the process. At an event attended by President Ram Nath Kovind and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on October 2, Ramana pointed out that, since May, the Supreme Court collegium had recommended 115 names to be appointed as High Court judges and chief justices. Until then, the Centre had cleared only eight names.
Judicial appointments certainly appear to have picked up pace since Ramana’s speech. However, the appointments of the past month have not been without controversy. Even as it cleared some names, the Centre overlooked others – lawyers who have served as legal officers in state governments led by Opposition parties, for instance.
In September, a Supreme Court bench headed by Ramana had censured the executive for “cherry-picking” the members of various tribunals, which are quasi-judicial bodies. Now, the Centre’s random rejection of names recommended by the Supreme Court...
