CJI Ramana Requests Chief Justices Of High Courts With Vacancies To Forward Names For Elevations Soon

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Friday requested the Chief Justice of the High Courts having vacancies of judges to forward the names for elevation at the earliest.

The CJI was delivering the Welcome Address at the Conference of the Chief Justices of the High Courts, which is happening after a gap of six years.

"You may recall that one of my first communications to you was about the filling up of vacancies. I have also requested all of you, in our very first online interaction, to expedite the process of recommending names for elevation to High Courts, with an emphasis on social diversity", CJI told the HC Chief Justices.

Adding that the responses from many High Courts have been "very encouraging", the CJI said that 126 appointments to High Courts could be made in less than one year with collective efforts. 50 more appointments are expected.

"This remarkable feat could be achieved because of your wholehearted co-operation and commitment to the institution. I request the Chief Justices of High Courts, which are still having number of vacancies, to forward the names for elevation at the earliest", the CJI said.

The CJI added that in the past one year, we have got nine new judges to the Supreme Court and 10 new Chief Justice for High Courts. "I thank my Brothers in the Collegium for their cooperation", he said.

Last week also, while speaking at a public function, the CJI had appealed to the High Courts to expedite the process for filling up the vacancies.

"After I assumed office, we made 180 recommendations so far, for appointments in High Courts. Out of this, 126 appointments were made. 54 proposals are awaiting approval by the government. The government has received nearly 100 proposals from various High Courts, which are yet to be transmitted to Supreme Court. I am hoping that the High Courts will expedite the process of sending the proposals to fill the remaining 212 vacancies", CJI Ramana had said then.

The CJI mentioned that the 6 agenda items of the Conference are:

1. Strengthening of IT infrastructure and connectivity at all court complexes pan India on priority basis,
2. Human Resources / Personnel Policy - Needs of district courts,
3. Infrastructure and capacity building: Institutionalising the mechanism for augmenting and creating state-of-the-art judicial infrastructure,
4. Institutional and legal reforms,
5. Appointment of High Court Judges,
6. Emoluments of High Court Judges and augmenting post retiral benefits of High Court Judges.

The aim and object of today's conference is to discuss and identify the problems that are affecting the administration of justice, the CJI said.  Justices UU Lalit and AM Khanwilkar, the next senior Supreme Court judges, are also participating in the conference. 

The Conference of Chief Justices of all High Courts will be followed by the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Saturday, 30th April, 2022, which will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India.