A Law Ministry statement said here that Justice Singh will perform the duties of the office of Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court with effect from August 23, 2015, consequent upon the retirement of Justice Sunil Ambwani, who was Chief Justice of that High Court.
Government had made similar arrangements in three other high courts recently after the NJAC Act was notified which scrapped the over two-decade-old collegium system where judges appointed judges.
While the collegium system has been done away with by a new law, the National Judicial Appointment Commission is yet to take shape. Therefore, no judge can be elevated as Chief Justice of a high court, transferred to another high court or elevated to the Supreme Court as there is no system in place for the purpose.
However, according to Law Ministry sources, Article 223 of the Constitution states that when the office of the Chief Justice of a high court is vacant or when any such Chief Justice is, by reason of absence or otherwise, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties shall be performed by such one of the other judges of the court as the President may appoint for the purpose.
More From This Section
The three were made Additional Judges in 2013 after being elevated from the bar.
To overcome shortage of judges, government had recently sought permission of the apex court to give extension to additional judges in various high courts whose tenure of two years is ending.
Till a new system is in place, the additional judges cannot be elevated as permanent judges in high courts.
As on August one, most of the 24 high courts of the country are facing an acute shortage of judges with as many as 384 vacancies waiting to be filled up.