The Punjab and Haryana High Court faces a 40% judges shortage and a backlog of 4.32 lakh cases, with 85% unresolved for over a year. It has recommended elevating 15 judges, the first elevation in over two years. The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Courts also appointed new judges to address vacancies.
Chandigarh: Amid a 40% shortage of judges and an alarming backlog of over 4.32 lakh cases, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has recommended the elevation of 15 District and Sessions Judges for the first time in more than two years. The HC collegium has proposed the names of eight judges from Punjab and seven from Haryana for elevation.
The recommendation comes as the High Court faces a daunting pendency of cases, with 85% of these unresolved for over a year and some dating back nearly 40 years. According to the National Judicial Data Grid, the pending cases include 2,68,279 civil matters and 1,63,948 criminal cases, directly affecting fundamental rights like life and liberty.
The last such elevation was in November 2022, and since then, efforts to address these “legacy” matters have shown little progress. Among the pending cases are 48,386 second appeals, including five from 1986, reflecting the gravity of judicial delays.
The court currently operates with only 51 judges against a sanctioned strength of 85, with three more judges retiring this year. The lengthy appointment process, involving multiple layers of clearance from state governments, governors, the Supreme Court collegium, and the Union Law Ministry, has contributed to the delay, further straining the judicial system.
Alarmingly, 29% of cases have been pending for over a decade, while 30% are unresolved for five to 10 years, and only 15% of cases are less than a year old. This highlights the critical need for swift action to address judicial vacancies and streamline case management.
The elevation of 15 judges is a crucial step toward alleviating the mounting pressure on the Punjab and Haryana High Court, but sustained efforts will be required to resolve the backlog effectively.
Additionally, the Ministry of Law and Justice has also announced the appointment of six judicial officers as judges in the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the Telangana High Court, following recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium on January 11, 2025.
Appointments in Andhra Pradesh High Court
Two judicial officers have been elevated as judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court:
- Avadhanam Hari Haranadha Sarma
- Dr. Yadavalli Lakshmana Rao
The official notification, dated January 22, 2025, reads:
“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint S/Shri (i) Avadhanam Hari Haranadha Sarma and (ii) Dr. Yadavalli Lakshmana Rao, to be Additional Judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, in that order of seniority, for a period of two years with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices.”
With these appointments, the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which has a sanctioned strength of 37 judges, will now have 30 judges, leaving seven vacancies.
Appointments in Telangana High Court
Four judicial officers, including two women, have been appointed as judges of the Telangana High Court:
- Renuka Yara
- Narsing Rao Nandikonda
- Tirumala Devi Eada (alias Thirupathamma K)
- Madhusudhan Rao Bobbili Ramaiah
The notification states:
“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint (i) Smt. Tirumala Devi Eada Alias Thirupathamma K, to be an Additional Judge of the Telangana High Court with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office till 01.06.2026 and (ii) Smt. Renuka Yam, (iii) Shri Narsing Rao Nandikonda, and (iv) Shri Madhusudhan Rao Bobbili Ramaiah, to be Additional Judges of the Telangana High Court, for a period of two years, with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices.”
These appointments come as a boost to the Telangana High Court, which operates with 26 judges against a sanctioned strength of 42.
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
