FILLING VACANCIES OF JUDGES IN HIGH COURTS
The
Centre has addressed letters to the Chief Justices of High Courts,
Chief Ministers and Governors of the States to make timely recommendations
for filling up the vacancies of judges in the High Courts. In
a letter addressed by the Union Law Minister, Shri K. Jana Krishnamurthi
on October 28, 2002, the constitutional authorities involved in
the appointment of judges of High Courts have been requested to
initiate proposals for filling up of the existing vacancies and
those expected to arise as early as possible but at least six
months before the occurrence of the vacancies. In fact, the Centre
has been requesting the Chief Justices of High Courts, Chief Ministers
and Governors of the States to recommend names, to this effect,
on a regular frequency.
The
Centre is endeavouring to fill all the vacancies of High Courts
latest by March 31, 2003 and thereafter put in place a mechanism
to ensure that vacancies in High Courts did not remain unfilled.
The
number of vacancies in the High Courts as on November 13, 2002
was 148 against the approved judges strength of 647 comprising
all the High Courts. There were 499 judges in position.
Meanwhile,
arrears of cases in the High Courts as on date were 36.40 lakhs.
