VACANCIES IN SUPREME AND HIGH COURTS

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Seven vacancies of judges in the Supreme Court of India will arise during the current financial year 2002-2003. Out of these, two such vacancies would arise in the first quarter of the year followed by two in the second quarter, two in the third quarter and one in the fourth quarter. The Supreme Court has a total strength of 26 judges including the Chief Justice of India.

In the High Courts, 100 vacancies would arise during the current year, out of which, 25 vacancies would occur in the first quarter followed by 25 each such vacancies in the second, the third and the fourth quarter respectively. There are 22 High Courts in the country with a total strength of 647 judges. The existing vacancies of 154 judges are already there.

It is in this context that the Centre has urged the Chief Justices of High Courts and the State Governments to expedite the requisite number of proposals from their end to enable the Centre to fill these vacancies on time so that milestones could be achieved in addressing the arrears of 3.55 million cases and expediting their disposal.