Lok Sabha Question No. 1316 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Vacancies and Pendency in Subordinate Courts in Jharkhand
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1316 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## VACANCIES AND PENDENCY IN SUBORDINATE COURTS IN JHARKHAND

## 1316. Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram:

Will the Minister of Law and Justice be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  sanctioned strength, working strength and vacancy position of judicial officers in the district and subordinate courts of Jharkhand as on 31 March 2024, cadre-wise;
- (b) the number of districts in the State where judicial vacancies exceed 25 per cent and the average duration for which such vacancies have remained unfilled;
- (c) the case pendency per judicial officer in districts with high vacancy levels, as compared to the State average; and
- (d) the timelines communicated by the Union Government to the State for filling existing vacancies and operationalizing sanctioned courts during Financial Year 2024-25?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF  LAW  AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a) As per the information available on Nyaya Vikas Portal of Department of Justice, the details regarding the sanctioned strength, working strength and vacancy position of judicial officers in the district and subordinate courts of Jharkhand as on 31.03.2024, cadre-wise, is given below:

| Judicial Officer              |   Sanctioned Strength |   Working Strength |   Vacancy |
|-------------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|-----------|
| District Judge                |                   240 |                202 |        38 |
| Civil Judge (Junior Division) |                   311 |                139 |       172 |
| Civil Judge (Senior Division) |                   156 |                155 |         1 |
| Total                         |                   707 |                496 |       211 |

(b) to (d) The data regarding number of districts in the State where judicial vacancies exceed 25 per cent and  the  average  duration  for  which  such  vacancies  have  remained  unfilled  and  the  case  pendency  per judicial  officer  in  districts  with  high  vacancy  levels,  as  compared  to  the  State  average  is  not  centrally maintained.  The  filling  of  vacancies  of  judicial  officers  in  District  and  Subordinate  Courts  is  within  the domain  of  the  respective  High  Courts  and  State  Governments.  The  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  vide  order passed in January 2007 in the Malik Mazhar Sultan case, has inter-alia stipulated certain timelines, which are to be followed by the States and the respective High Courts for recruitment of judges in District and Subordinate Courts. The Government of India has, from time to time, requested the State Governments and High Courts, for filling existing vacancies. The setting up of District and Subordinate Courts falls within the domain of the State/UT in consultation with the respective High Court, as per its need and availability of  resources.  As  per  the  extant  provision  under  Article(s)  227  and  235  of  the  Constitution  of  India,  the power  of  superintendence  and  control  over  all  district  courts  and  courts  subordinate  thereto  under  its jurisdiction is vested in the respective High Courts.

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