Supreme Court Collegium, in a historic move approved appointing five retired judges as ad hoc judges of the Allahabad High Court under Article 224-A to reduce vacancies and pendency, ensuring faster justice delivery nationwide effectively.
The Delhi High Court dismissed a PIL regarding judicial vacancies, clarifying that judicial appointments are high-level constitutional roles, not regular government jobs. The court acknowledged ongoing efforts to address the judge shortage, which currently leaves the Delhi High Court with only 36 judges against a sanctioned strength of 60, impacting timely justice delivery.
The Supreme Court of India expressed concern over nearly 7 lakh pending criminal appeals across high courts, especially noting the severe under-staffing in the Allahabad High Court, which currently operates with only 79 of its sanctioned 160 judges. The court urged the central government to expedite judicial appointments for timely justice delivery.
The 2025 India Justice Report reveals a severe shortage of judges in India, with only 15 per million people, far below the recommended 50. The report highlights high vacancy rates, especially in high courts, and significant case backlogs. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for urgent reforms and increased diversity in the judiciary.
The Central government approved the appointment of Alok Kumar Sinha, Sourendra Pandey, and Soni Shrivastava as judges of the Patna High Court, leaving two recommended advocates pending. The court currently has 34 judges instead of the sanctioned 53, leading to a significant shortage that affects case hearings and justice delivery.
As of November 21, 2024, India’s judiciary faces severe challenges with 5,200 unfilled positions and 4.53 crore pending cases. The Supreme Court has two vacancies while High Courts have 364, predominantly in Allahabad. Initiatives to translate judgments into regional languages aim to improve access to legal resources amidst these issues.
Former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud called for urgent government action to fill 21% of vacant district court positions, emphasizing the need for increased judicial investment. He proposed an “All India Judicial Service Examination” to address staffing shortages and urged for better infrastructure to ensure timely justice and effective governance, particularly for the underprivileged.
The Supreme Court Collegium, under Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, faced obstacles in judicial appointments, with key recommendations for Saurabh Kirpal and R. John Sathyan stalled by the government. Notably, no women were recommended for the Supreme Court. Delays and concerns over government interference have prompted judicial discourse on these appointments.