165 HC judges appointed this year, highest in calendar year so far: Centre

New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): A total of 165 judges have been appointed to the various high courts in this calendar year so far, the Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju to Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju said that the central government has recently referred back twenty names to Supreme Court Collegium recommended for appointment as High Court judges.

The Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today informed that the Government has recently referred back 20 names to Supreme Court Collegium recommended for appointment as High Court judges.

"As on 09.12.2022, against the sanctioned strength of 1108 Judges, 777 Judges are working in High Courts, leaving a vacancy of 331 (30%) judges to be filled. Against 331 Vacancies, at present, 147 proposals received from High Courts are at various stages of processing between the Government and the Supreme Court Collegium," Rijiju wrote in his letter.

Further recommendations from High Court Collegiums are yet to be received in respect of 184 vacancies in High Courts.

According to the Centre, Government has appointed a record number of 165 Judges in various High Courts in the year 2022 till December 9, which is the highest in a calendar year so far.

"Constitution (Ninety-Ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014 w.e.f. 13.04.2015 were declared unconstitutional and void vide judgment dated 16.12.2015. The Collegium system as existing prior to the enforcement of the Constitution (Ninety-Ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 was declared to be operative, and all current appointments in the Higher Judiciary are currently being made as per the existing Memorandum of Procedure (MoP)," the letter by the Law Minister reads. (ANI)