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Swarna Shukla –

Published On: December 03, 2021 at 19:30 IST

Of the 164 proposals made by High Court Collegium for appointment of Judges to various High Courts, at least 126 are pending before the Central Government, data given by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju.

31 recommendations are pending with the Supreme Court Collegium while seven were remitted to the High Courts. The answer came in response to a question posed by an MP from CPI (M) John Brittas.

The reply also said that in the year 2021, 9 judges have been appointed to the Supreme Court and 118 to various High Courts as on November 29. The reply stated, “Filling up of vacancies in the High Courts is a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between the Executive and the Judiciary. It requires consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities both at state and central level. While every effort is made to fill up the existing vacancies expeditiously, vacancies of Judges in High Courts do keep on arising on account of retirement, resignation or elevation of Judges and also due to increase in the strength of Judges.”

Government appoints only those persons as Judges of High Courts who the Supreme Court Collegium recommends.

The submitted data reveals that a total of 126 of 164 recommendations are pending with the Central Government with different departments:

  • Department of Justice: 35,
  • Prime Minister’s Office: 03,
  • Ministry of Law and Justice: 13,
  • To be sent to the Supreme Court Collegium: 75

It was further specified that 55 proposals had been remitted/returned by the Government to the High Courts on the advice of the Supreme Court Collegium this year.

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