In a Bid to Fill Vacancies, Supreme Court Collegium Clears 68 Names for HCs

As on 1 September, there were 465 vacancies in the 25 High Courts, against a sanctioned strength of 1,098.

Supreme Court of India.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended 68 names, including of 10 women, in order to fill the large number of vacancies in high courts across the country. This is the most number of positions that have been filled by the Collegium at a time.

As on 1 September, there were 465 vacancies in the 25 high courts — 281 of permanent judges and 184 of additional judges — against a sanctioned strength of 1,098. Of these, the Allahabad High Court accounted for 68 vacancies, Punjab and Haryana for 40, Calcutta for 36. The Collegium considered the names of 112 candidates – 82 from the Bar and 31 from the Judicial Service, reported NDTV.

Calling it a "record", Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said, "At least 90 percent of the vacant posts in high courts will be filled in another month. Thanks to the Law Minister Kiren Rijiju that he cleared nine names in just a span of six days without any murmur. It's a record."

Eight were chosen for Kerala, six each for Calcutta and Rajasthan, five each for Guwahati and Jharkhand, and Madras, two for Chhattisgarh, and one for Madhya Pradesh.

The three-member Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, met on 25 August and 1 September to shortlist the names.

Some of the prominent names included those of Justices UU Lalit and AM Khanwilkar, and Marli Vankung.

The Collegium also resolved to reiterate its earlier recommendation to elevate nine advocates as judges of the Rajasthan, Calcutta, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka High Courts.

(With inputs from NDTV)