Eighty-three vacant posts for judges in high courts

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) Only a single vacancy exists for the post of judges in the Supreme Court, but in various high courts, there were 83 such vacancies as on April 16 this year, the government informed the Rajya Sabha today.

In a written reply, Law and Justice Minister H R Bhardwaj said the maximum number of vacancies for judges existed in the Allahabad Court where 27 posts had to be filled.

Allhabad High Court is followed by Gujarat High Court with 11 vacancies, Kolkata High Court (10), Andhra Pradesh High Court (8), Rajasthan and Patna High Courts (4 vacancies each) and Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and Kerala high courts (3 vacancies each).

Mr Bhardwaj said as many as eight vacant posts for judges were filled in the Supreme Court between April 16, 2006 and April 15 this year.

Similarly, a total of 164 judges were appointed in various high courts during the period.

The minister said the process of initiation of proposal for appointment of judges of a high court lies with the Chief Justice of that high court.

''The government has been requesting the Chief Justices of the High Courts, from time to time, to initiate proposals for filling up of the present vacancies as well as the vacancies anticipated during the next six months,'' he told the Upper House.

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