CJI didn`t consult SC collegium for over 15 yrs: Bhardwaj

New Delhi, April 28: The Chief Justice of India recommended appointment of additional judges as permanent judges of high courts without consulting the Supreme Court Collegium during the period January 1, 1992 to July 31, 2007, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Law Minister H R Bhardwaj said, in a written reply, that the government was not thinking of reverting to the situation where the collegium did not have any role in judicial appointments. Pending cases: there are 46,926 pending cases in the supreme court and 38.16 lakh pending cases in various high courts. The number of pending cases in subordinate courts is 2.49 crore, the minister said in another reply. In the Madras High Court, the number of cases pending as on September 30, 2007 was 4.2 lakh, the minister said. Replying to another question on vacancies in high courts, a list given by the minister showed that a maximum number of 27 vacancies were there in Allahabad High Court, followed by Gujarat High Court with 11 vacancies and Calcutta High Court as on April 16, 2008. Case disposal: the present judge strength in the country is 14 per million population. The Supreme Court in a judgement on March 21, 2002 directed that the judge strength be increased to 50 judges per million population. The matter is sub-judice, the minister said. The government has decided to create 152 additional posts of high court judges. It has also approved increase supreme court judge strength from 25 to 30. State governments have also been requested to increase judge strength as per the Supreme Court direction and also fill up the vacant posts of judicial officers, the minister said in response to another question. Bureau Report
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