Lok Sabha Question No. 4596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-29
Subject: Increase in Judges in High Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: NAGARAJAN P.

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0.4596

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 29.03.2017

## Increase in Judges in High Courts

## 4596. SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

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

- (a)  whether Government has decided to increase the number of judges in High Courts during the year 2017;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons for not increasing the strength of High Court judges across the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): After receiving the approval from the State Governments and the High Courts and with the  approval  of  the  Chief  Justice  of  India,  the  Judge  strength  of  the  High  Courts  has  been increased from 906 in 01.06.2014 to 1079 as on date.

As  per  the  direction  of  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  its  Order  dated  2.1.2017  in  the matter of of Imtiyaz Ahmed case, the Department of Justice has forwarded a copy of the interim report of the National Court Management System (NCMS) Committee to all State Governments and  High  Courts  to  enable  them  to  take  follow  up  action  to  determine  the  required  Judges Strength of the district judiciary based on the NCMS report. It has inter-alia, observed that in the long term, the judge strength of the Subordinate Courts will have to be assessed by a scientific method to determine the total number of 'Judicial Hours' required for disposing of the case load of each court. In the interim, this Committee has proposed a 'weighted' disposal approach i.e. disposal weighted by the nature and complexity of cases in local conditions.

Further, the Supreme Court in its Order dated 20.3.2017  in  W.P. (C) Nos. 295 and 624 of 2016 has stated that there are number of unfilled posts of Judges at various levels and therefore increasing  the  number  of  posts  of  Judges  will  arise  only  after  filling  up  of  these  existing vacancies.

*****

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4598

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 29.03.2017

Vacancies in High Court

## 4598. SHRI RAMEN DEKA:

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

- (a) the sanctioned strength of judges in Guwahati High Court; and
- (b) whether vacancies exist in the said court and if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken to fill by these vacancies at the earliest?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND

## INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRl P.P. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) & (b) : There are 24 sanctioned posts of Judges in Gauhati High Court. Out of this, as on 24.03.2017, 7 posts of Judges are lying vacant.

Filling up of vacancies in High Courts is a continuous and collaborative process of the Judiciary  and  the  Executive.  While  every  effort  is  made  to  fill  up  the  existing  vacancies expeditiously,  vacancies  keep  on  arising  on  account  of  retirement,  resignation  or  elevation  of Judges and increase in the Judge strength of High Courts. Hence, the time frame for filling up of the vacancies cannot be indicated. However, during the calendar year 2016, 5 judges have been appointed in the Gauhati High Court so far.

*****