Over 2,000 lawyers demand urgent judicial reforms, urging the filling of 283 high court judge vacancies, ending favouritism, and breaking the ‘judge-relative nexus’ in judicial appointments to restore trust.
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NEW DELHI: More than 2,000 advocates across India have signed a requisition calling for sweeping reforms in the higher judiciary, starting with the immediate appointment of 283 pending high court judges.
The push comes amid 62 lakh cases pending in high courts nationwide, a backlog that advocates claim could be cleared within four years if all vacancies are filled with “honest, hardworking and dedicated” judges capable of deciding 25 cases per day over 240 working days a year.
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The urgency is illustrated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which saw the swearing-in of 10 new judges on August 4. Yet, 26 posts remain vacant, contributing to delays and mounting caseloads.
The signatories, led by senior advocate Tahar Singh and advocate Sarbjeet Singh, say chronic delays, “institutional favouritism”, and “in-breeding” in appointments are eroding judicial credibility.
The four-page document lays out a series of concrete structural reforms aimed at strengthening the higher judiciary. It calls for an early elevation process, with appointments starting at least six months before vacancies arise, and warns against delaying selections until “close relatives of judges or the Union Law Minister become eligible.”
To avoid conflicts of interest, it proposes ending the practice of elevating judges from the same bar to the same high court. A five-year transfer policy is recommended for high court judges, adopting a system similar to the IAS and IPS, where officers cannot serve in their home districts.
For greater integrity and accountability, it suggests retrospective probes into disproportionate assets, including scrutiny after retirement, and raising the minimum elevation age to 50 years for judges and 45 for senior advocate designation.
The requisition also demands that “ad hoc” appointments be replaced with transparent, merit-based selection guidelines, and calls for strict recusal norms requiring collegium members to step aside in cases where their relatives practice in the same court.
Citing recent controversies, such as cases involving Justice Yashwant Verma, Justice Narayan Shukla, and the “cash-for-bail” racket at Rouse Avenue Court, the requisition warns that corruption in the judiciary is at “an all-time high”.
Advocates argue that without systemic changes, public trust will continue to erode.
The document applauds retired Supreme Court judges like Justice Kurien Joseph, Justice Jasti Chelameswar, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Sanjeev Khanna, Justice Chandrachud, and Justice Abhay S. Oka for declining post-retirement government posts, a step seen as essential to safeguard judicial independence.
It urges all current judges, “from Justice Surya Kant onwards”, to follow their example.
The advocates conclude with a direct appeal to the Chief Justice of India and fellow Supreme Court judges to take moral and institutional responsibility for implementing reforms.
Drawing inspiration from former CJI M.N. Venkatachaliah, who introduced the judges’ transfer policy in 1993, the requisition closes with a pointed reminder,
“When the history of India’s judicial system will be read, the names of you and your colleagues will be remembered.”
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