Lok Sabha Question No. 3525 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: SC/ST Judges in Judiciary
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Thiru Dr. S Jagathratchakan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3525 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13 TH  MARCH, 2026

## SC/ST JUDGES IN JUDICIARY

## 3525. THIRU DR. S JAGATHRATCHAKAN:

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

(a) the number of individuals from SC/ST communities currently serving as Judges in various High Courts and the Supreme Court of India, State-wise;

(b) the number of individuals from SC/ST communities serving in Subordinate Courts, specifically in District Courts, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government maintains data regarding the number of Judicial Officers from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities serving in the  Union  and  State  Tribunals  constituted  under  various  statutes,  if  so,  the detailed information in this regard;

(d) the details regarding the appointments of Judges or Judicial Officers from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities over the last five years in each State, including specific numbers; and

(e) whether the reservation criteria have been excluded from the process of appointing Judges in Higher Courts and if so, the reasons therefor?

## 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)  to  (e): Appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts is made under Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India, which do

not  provide  for  reservation  for  any  caste  or  class  of  persons.  Therefore, category-wise data pertaining to representation of SCs, STs and OBCs among the Judges of High Courts are not centrally maintained. However, since 2018, the recommendees for the post of High Court Judges are required to provide details regarding their social background in the prescribed format (prepared in consultation  with  the  Supreme  Court).  Accordingly,  as  per  the  information provided  by  the  recommendees,  out  of  849  High  Court  Judges  appointed since  2018,  33  belong  to  SC  category,  whereas  17  belong  to  ST  category.

As  per  the  Memorandum  of  Procedure  (MoP),  the  responsibility  for initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges in the Supreme Court vests with  the  Chief  Justice  of  India,  while  the  responsibility  for  initiation  of proposals for appointment of Judges in the High Courts vests with the Chief Justice  of  the  concerned  High  Court.  However,  the  Government  has  been requesting the Chief Justices of High Courts that while sending proposals for appointment  of  Judges,  due  consideration  be  given  to  suitable  candidates belonging  to  Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes,  Other  Backward  Classes, Minorities and Women to ensure social diversity in the appointment of Judges in  High  Courts.  Only  those  persons,  who  are  recommended by the  Supreme Court  Collegium,  are  appointed  as  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  High Courts.

As  far  as  appointment  of  judicial  officers  in  District  and  Subordinate Courts  is  concerned,  under  Article  235  of  the  Constitution  of  India,  the administrative control over the members of district and subordinate judiciary in  the  States  vests  with  the  concerned  High  Court.  In  exercise  of  powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 read with Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Governments, in consultation with the High Court, frame the Rules and Regulations regarding the issue of appointment,

promotion, reservations and retirement of Judicial Officers in the State Judicial Service.

The number of Judicial Officers from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities serving in the Central and State Tribunals constituted under various statutes is not centrally maintained.

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