Judiciary has more than 5,600 vacancies across courts, Govt tells RS

“While every effort is made to fill up the existing vacancies expeditiously, vacancies of judges in high courts do keep on rising on account of retirement, resignation or elevation, and also due to increase in the strength of judges. Filling up of vacant positions in the case of district and subordinate courts is the responsibility of the high courts and state governments concerned,” Meghwal said in a written reply.

On the question as to whether the government was thinking of bringing an all-India judicial service examination for the selection of judges, Meghwal said there was no consensus on the issue even though Article 312 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of All India Judicial Service (AIJS), which shall not include any post inferior to that of a District Judge.

“A comprehensive proposal was formulated for the constitution of an AIJS and the same was approved by the Committee of Secretaries in November 2012. The above proposal was included as an agenda item in the Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of the High Courts held in April 2013 and it was decided that the issue needs further deliberation and consideration. The views of the state governments and High Courts were sought on the proposal. There was divergence of opinion among the state governments and the High Courts on the constitution of All India Judicial Service,” Meghwal said.

The Law minister said the matter was further discussed at various forums in 2015, 2017 and 2021.