Judges Of Bombay High Court Overburdened, Can't Fix Timeline For Disposal: Supreme Court

Observing that the judges of the Bombay High Court are "overburdened", the Supreme Court on Friday (October 4) turned down a prayer to fix a time-line for the disposal of an execution matter.

"Considering the fact that the judges of the Bombay High Court are overburdened such a direction cannot be issued especially when there may be older execution applications which are pending," observed a bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih.

During the hearing, Justice Oka, whose parent High Court is the Bombay High Court, spoke about the case load of the judges there.

"Sanctioned strength (of Bombay High Court) is 92 judges, there are 64 judges. Every judge has more than 100 matters on the cause list," Justice Oka observed. 

The special leave petition was filed against the delay in the disposal of the execution petition, saying that it has been adjourned over 35 times. The counsel submitted that the matter was directed to be disposed of within two months in October last year. "In Bombay High Court Original Side the judges have more than hundred and fifty matters (daily)," Justice Oka said, adding that many times, the listed matters may not even reach.

While disposing of the petition, the Court clarified that the petitioner is at liberty to request the High Court for a priority hearing.

Recently, on September 24,  the Supreme Court collegium had recommended the elevation of nine advocates as the Bombay High Court judges. Last week, while hearing a similar matter concerning the Bombay High Court, CJI DY Chandrachud observed that the appointment of the new judges to the High Court was likely to take place soon.