Lok Sabha Question No. 1291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Judges of Subordinate Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1291

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 23 RD NOVEMBER, 2016

## Judges of Subordinate Courts

## 1291. SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the sanctioned strength of judges at Subordinate Courts across
- the country and their vacant posts as on date;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to fill the vacant posts; and
- (c) whether the number of rooms available vis-a-vis the number of judges in the
- Subordinate  Courts  across  the  country  are  not  adequate  and  if  so,  the corrective steps being taken thereon?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): The matters relating to sanctioned strength and filling up of the vacancies of judges / judicial officers in District and Subordinate Courts fall within the domain of State Governments  and  the  High  Courts.    The  sanctioned  strength  of  Judges  /  Judicial officers  in  District  and  Subordinate  Courts stood at 21,320 as on 30.06.2016.  Out of these 16,383 posts were filled up, leaving 4,937 vacancies.  The Central Government has  been  taking up  the  matter  of  filling  up  of  vacancies  in  District  and  Subordinate Courts with the State Governments and the High Courts from time to time.  Supreme Court is monitoring the recruitment of Subordinate Judiciary in the case of Malik Mazhar Sultan & Another versus U.P. Public Service Commission & Others.

The primary responsibility for development of infrastructural facilities for judiciary in  the  States rests  with  the  State  Governments.    However,  in  order  to  augment  the resources  of  the  State  Governments,  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  for development of infrastructure facilities for judiciary has been in operation since 1993-94.

It  now  covers  the  construction  of  court  buildings  and  residential  accommodation  of judicial officers of District and Subordinate Courts.

As per information collected from High Courts as of December 31, 2015, there were 16,513 court halls / court rooms available for District and Subordinate Courts in the  country.    In  addition,  2,447  court  halls  /  court  rooms  were  under  construction. Comparing these figures with the working strength  of 16,070 judges / judicial officers reported by High Courts as of December, 2015, adequate court rooms / court halls were available  for  the  working  strength  of  judicial  manpower.    Focus  is  now  to  match  the availability of court rooms / court halls with the sanctioned strength of judicial officers / judges  in  District  and  Subordinate  Courts. During  the  Joint  Conference  of  the  Chief Ministers of the States and the Chief Justices of the High Courts held on April 5, 2015, it was resolved that the Chief Justices and the Chief Ministers shall institute a mechanism for regular interaction among themselves to resolve issues, particularly those relating to infrastructure and manpower needs and facilities for the Judiciary.

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