PIL In Hyderabad HC For Appointment Of Chief Justice And Other Judges

The High Court of Hyderabad has ordered its Registry to list a PIL which seeks appointment of a permanent Chief Justice and other Judges to the Court.

An objection against listing the matter was raised by the Registry. The same was, however, overruled by a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan. The Petition lists as Respondents, the Secretary to Ministry of Law and Justice, Registrar of the Supreme Court, Registrar General of Hyderabad High Court, and Chief Secretaries of the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Filed by Senior Counsel Sarasani Satyam Reddy, it seeks to declare as unconstitutional, the non-appointment of a Chief Justice to the common High Court, even after 22 months of superannuation of the previous incumbent. According to a Deccan Chronicle report, the act of non-appointment has been contended to be violative of Article 216 of the Constitution of India, which prescribes the constitution of the High Courts.

Further, the Petition objects to the lack of appointment of a member of the Telangana Bar to the Bench since April, 2013. It also points out the fact of non-appointment of the Judges up to the sanctioned strength of 61 Judges, contending that the same is crippling the functioning of the High Court. The Court is only functioning at 40% of its sanctioned strength currently, with 27 Judges holding office.