Senior judgeship vacancies rise

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) Vacancies in 21 High Court judgeships last week were 91 and in the Supreme Court, three, Parliament was told today.

This marked an increase from 82 High Court vacancies and two Supreme Court vacancies the government reported eight weeks ago.

This was despite periodic government reminders, Law and Justice Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Of 689 sanctioned posts in 21 High Courts 91 were vacant as on April 30 and of 26 sanctioned Supreme Court posts three were vacant, Bhardwaj said.

The Minister said the appointment process for a Supreme Court Judge lies with the Chief Justice of India and for a High Court Judge, with the Chief Justice of that High Court.

That, he said, has been the set vide a Supreme Court Judgement of October 6,1993 read with an Advisory Opinion of October 28, 1998.

He said the government ''has been periodically reminding'' the High Court Chief Justices, the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Ministers of States to initiate proposals for filling up all posts.

In another written reply, Minister of State for Law and Justice K Venkatapathy told the House that 106 posts of Judges have been approved in eight High Courts after a triennial review last year.

The posts are subject to the respective state governments' concurrence, Mr Venkatapathy said.

The maximum 65 posts were approved in Allahabad HC, followed by 27 in Andhra Pradesh, eight in Calcutta HC, two in Punjab an Haryana and one each in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, he said.

UNI