38 new additional judges have been appointed to at least five high courts, bringing down the vacancy position from 465 to 427.
Official sources in the Law Ministry said today that fresh appointments have been made in seven high courts, including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Allahabad, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh in the last two days.
While their warrants of appointments have been signed by the President, the notifications are being issued.
Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda tweeted about the new appointments.
"More fresh appointments to HCs -- 10 judges to Madhya Pradesh HC and 5 Judges to Gujarat HC appointed. Hope disposal of cases will pick up," he said in one of the tweets.
The sources said the additional judges have been taken from state judicial services as well as the Bar. These appointments were part of 115 names in the pipeline for the past few months.
With these appointments, the vacancy position has gone down from 465 as on March one to 427. The total authorised strength of the 24 high courts is 1,056 judges but vacancies have continued despite efforts by the judiciary and the executive to reduce it.
(REOPENS MES1)
Speaking to reporters later, Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said in reply to a question on filling up the remaining vacancies, that he cannot say anything on the subject as a Chief Justice.
"We are only hoping that once the process is over we will know exactly how many vacancies are left.With today's appointments we have 54 judges.
"We will begin the process of appointment of judges for the remaining vacancies later and it is in the pipeline," he said.
