Vacancies of judges in SC and HCs

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) The Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that during the period between December 7, 2006 and December 12, 2007, there will be four vacancies in the Supreme Court due to retirement of Judges and 65 vacancies are likely to arise in various High Courts due to retirement or elevation of Judges to Supreme Court.

In a written reply in the Upper House, Minister of State for Law and Justice K. Venkatapathy said that pursuant to the Judgement of Supreme Court dated October 6, 1993 in the case of Supreme Court Advocates on Record and Anr. Vs Union of India, and the Advisory Opinion of the Supreme Court dated October 28, 1998, the proposals for appointment of Judges in the Supreme Court and the High Courts are to be initiated by the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court, respectively.

The Government has, however, been requesting the Chief Justices of High Courts and Chief Ministers of the States, from time to time, to initiate proposals for filling up of the present and anticipated vacancies during the next six months, he added.

On the Reports of Law Commission, the Minister said that the 198th Report of the Law Commission on ''Witness Identity Protection and Witness Protection Programme'' is the process of being laid before the Parliament.

Regarding pending cases, the Minister said that the information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

On quicker disposal of minor cases, Mr Venkatapathy informed that as per information furnished by the Supreme Court of India, 17,19,569 cases under Section 131 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and 22,45,879 traffic challan cases are pending in the courts of Judicial Magistrates First Class/Metropolitan Magistrates and Chief Judicial Magistrates.

Quick disposal of such cases is within the domain of the judiciary.

With a view to expeditiously disposing of petty cases in the courts, the Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices held on March 11, 2006 made the following resolution which has been forwarded to the State Governments for appropriate action: ''.....Cases involving petty offences including traffic and municipal challans be transferred to the courts of Special Metropolitan Magistrates and Special Judicial Magistrates,'' the Minister added.

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