Lok Sabha Question No. 4642 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: SC-ST Judges in Higher Judiciary and Union Tribunals
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. 4642 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2026

## SC-ST JUDGES IN HIGHER JUDICIARY AND UNION TRIBUNALS

## 4642.  THIRU DR. S JAGATHRATCHAKAN:

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

- (a) the  number  of  individuals  from  Scheduled  Caste/Scheduled Tribe  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 in each State;
- (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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