Vacancies and Pending Cases

The Government has informed the Rajya Sabha that the approved strength of the judges of High Courts is 895. Against this, 625 Judges are in position as on 22.8.2012, leaving 270 vacancies to be filled up. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law & Justice, said that pursuant to the Supreme Court Judgment of October 6, 1993 read with their Advisory Opinion of October 28, 1998, the entire process of initiation of proposal for appointment of Judges of High Courts rests with the Chief Justice of that High Court. The Government is periodically reminding the Chief Justices of the High Courts to initiate proposals in time for filling up the existing vacancies as well as the vacancies anticipated in next six months in the High Courts. Shri Khurshid informed the House that 121 proposals have been received as a result between January 2012 and August, 2012.