357 High Court Judge Posts Vacant; 219 Proposals From HC Collegiums Being Processed: Union Law Ministry In Rajya Sabha

Responding to a question tabled in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice today stated that as of July 19, 2024, against the sanctioned strength of 1114 Judges in various High Courts, 757 Judges are working (approx 68%) and 357 posts of Judges are vacant (approx 32%).

In comparison, in December last year, there were 324 vacancies out of the same sanctioned strength of 1,114 judges, with 790 judges working. This corresponded to a vacancy rate of 29% and a working strength of 71%.

In contrast, the Law Ministry has stated that the Supreme Court is currently operating at full strength with no current vacancies.

The Allahabad High Court has the highest number of vacancies among the High Courts in the country, with 160 sanctioned posts and 76 vacancies. 

The Ministry has also informed that, as of July 19, 219 proposals received from High Court Collegiums for the appointment of judges are at different stages of processing.

"Out of these 219 proposals, 90 proposals were sent to the Supreme Court Collegium (SCC) for seeking advice against which the SCC has provided advice on 82 proposals which are at various stages of processing.129 fresh proposals received recently are being processed for seeking the advice of the SCC. The recommendations are yet to be received from High Court Collegiums in respect of the remaining 138 vacancies. Further, 05 proposals for transfer of Judges are under consideration of the Government," the reply of the Union Law Ministry reads.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal furnished this information in response to Rajya Sabha MP Haris Beeran's queries regarding vacancies in HCs and SC.

In its reply, the Law Minister said that appointing Judges in the High Courts is a "continuous, integrated and collaborative process, involving approval from various Constitutional Authorities." He added that the Government is committed to expediting the process of appointing Judges to the Constitutional Courts.

The reply further states that the proposal for transferring High Court Judges is initiated by the Chief Justice of India, in consultation with four senior-most puisne Judges of the Supreme Court, and that all transfers are to be made in the public interest, i.e., to promote better administration of justice throughout the country.

The reply says that no timeline has been prescribed in the MoP for transferring judges from one High Court to another.

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