TIA NEWS /
Chief Justice of India TS Thakur once again lashes out at government for not making appointements of judges saying there were around 500 judges’ posts lying vacant in High Courts.
“There are around 500 vacancies in High Courts today. 500 High Court judges should be working today, they are not working,” Chief Justice Thakur said in New Delhi today.
Justice Thakur also said there was a lack of infrastructure being provided to tribunals, due to which several of them are empty.
“Government is not ready to give proper facilities. Vacancy apart from infrastructure is a major concern for tribunals. Tribunals are not equipped and are lying empty. Today a situation has come that when no retired Supreme Court judge wants to head a tribunal… Posts are falling vacant and I am at pains in persuading my colleagues who are demitting office to accept these appointments,” he said.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, however, disagreed and said the government has made 120 appointments this year.
“We respectfully disagree with him (Chief Justice). We have made 120 appointments this year. Since 1990 there have only been 80 appointments. 5,000 vacancies are there in lower judiciaries in which the government of India has no role to play. That is something for only to judiciary to take. As far as infrastructure is concerned, that is a continuous process,” Mr Prasad said.
The appointment and transfer of judges is decided by a collegium or a panel of the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice. Their choices are forwarded to the government for approval, and then need the President’s assent.
Many eminent jurists have said that the process of judges appointment needs reform because the process lacks transparency. Last year, parliament cleared a National Judicial Appointments Commission which would include the Law Minister and two eminent persons selected by a separate panel including the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition.
In April, Justice Thakur broke down at a meeting in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while talking about the pressure on judges and the need to appoint more.