FILLING UP OF VACANCIES IN SUBORDINATE JUDICIARY

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The Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley has addressed a letter to the Chief Justices of High Courts and the Chief Ministers of States requesting them to expedite filling up of staggering vacancies of about 1875 judges and magistrates in the subordinate judiciary of various states following the Supreme Court judgement in the All India Judges Association Case on March 21, 2002 directing that all the existing vacancies should be filled in latest by March 31, 2003 in all the States. The Law Minister has requested the States to take up the matter on priority to fill up existing vacancies of posts of judges and magistrates.

It has been pointed out that the State Governments of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharasthra and Rajasthan should pay more attention as there are more vacancies in these States than other States. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has been requested to make a special drive to fill up all the vacancies.

The State Governments have been advised to persuade closely the respective Public Service Commission so that they may take up filling up of vacancies in subordinate judiciary on priority especially in view of the impugned direction of the apex court. It has been pointed out that the State Governments normally forget about the vacancies after forwarding their requisition to Public Service Commission. Their responsibility does not end there. It has also been pointed out that many of the vacancies can be filled up in the subordinate judiciary by the concerned High Court by organizing recruitment drive on their administrative side.