Status on Clearance of proposals for pending vacancies in the High Courts

 Shri Kiren Rijiju Union Minster of Law and Justice Judges of the High Courts are appointed as per the procedure laid down in the Memorandum of Procedure(MoP) prepared in 1998 pursuant to the Supreme Court Judgment of October 6, 1993 (Second Judges case) read with their Advisory Opinion of October 28, 1998 (Third Judges case).  As per MoP, initiation of proposal for appointment of Judges in the High Courts vests with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.   All the names recommended by High Court Collegiums are sent with the views of the Government to the Supreme Court Collegiums (SCC) for advice.  Government, however, appoints only those persons as Judges of High Courts who are recommended by SCC

As on 04.02.2022, against the sanctioned strength of 1098 Judges in the High Courts, 687 Judges are in position, leaving 411 vacancies of Judges to be filled. Government has appointed 120 High Court Judges in the year 2021. At present, 172 proposals are at various stages of processing between the Government and the Supreme Court Collegiums. Further recommendations from High Court Collegiums are yet to be received in respect of remaining 239 vacancies in High Courts. A statement showing High Court wise appointments notified during 2021 and details of proposals which are at various stages of processing between the Government and the SCC as on 04.02.2022 is at Annexure below: