“HCs in Crisis”: SC Lays Down Timeline For Appointments of Judges

To address rising vacancies in high courts, SC has set timeline for central government and Intelligence Bureau

In order to address the rising vacancies in high courts across the country, the Supreme Court has proposed a timeline for the central government and the Information Bureau for considering recommendations for the appointment of judges.

The apex court has observed that once the Supreme Court collegium has endorsed the recommendations, the central government shall make such appointments within 3-4 weeks of receiving the collegium’s decision.

While reiterating the glaring concern of increasing judicial vacancies, the Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said:

We cannot but note the importance of the Chief Justices of the High Courts making recommendations in time. The vacancies are known and the norms permit making recommendations up to six months in advance. However, even recommendations for 220 existing vacancies appear not to have been made in time much less for other vacancies, which are going to arise in the next six months.

Supreme Court of India