HC seeks blueprint for expeditious filling of over 3,000 judicial posts
In 2023, the Maharashtra government’s law and judiciary department had told HC that it had created 348 new posts of judicial officers across the state taking the sanctioned strength to nearly 2360.
The Bombay High Court has sought expeditious filling of over 3000 additionally sanctioned and already vacant posts of district courts’ judges, civil judges, magistrates and other judicial officers in Maharashtra.
The HC also sought from its registry/administration the blueprint of the steps intended to follow in 2026 to fill up such posts. It also sought responses on the number of total posts sanctioned in different cadres, vacancies as of January 1 2026 and the details of phases in which the recruitment process shall be initiated.
A bench of Justices Bharati H Dangre and Sarang V Kotwal was on January 28 hearing PIL by one Vaijnath Pandurang Vaze and seeking speedy process for recruitment, increased strength of judges and adequate court infrastructure, along with contempt plea by Maharashtra State Judges Association alleging non-compliance of a 2018 verdict that sought from government expeditious steps for appointment of judges at the district level.
In 2023, the Maharashtra government’s law and judiciary department had told HC that it had created 348 new posts of judicial officers across the state taking the sanctioned strength to nearly 2360.
The HC was also informed that the National Court Management Systems Committee (NCMSC) had recommended creation of 3,211 more posts of judges across Maharashtra to deal with the increased caseload.
The posts include District judges, Civil Judge Junior and Senior Division, Chief and Additional Metropolitan Magistrates, Chief and other judges of Small Causes courts
On Wednesday, Additional Government Pleader P P Kakade submitted December 1 notification issued by the state Law and Judiciary department that amended the Maharashtra Judicial Service Rules, 2008. With these amended rules, advocate S R Nargolkar representing HC registry claimed that the ” path is clear for initiating the process for recruitment and for promotion.”
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” We only deem it necessary to express a word of caution that though the posts are created, for filling up the posts, the procedure as prescribed in the Maharashtra Judicial Service Rules, 2008 will have to be strictly adhered to, and it is a time consuming process, as we are cautious that the appointments/promotions are to be effected based on judging the suitability of the candidate and this process definitely consumes time,” the HC observed.
The court directed its registry to place a blue print over filling up newly sanctioned posts and presently vacant posts.
“As we are cautious that the appointment process for Judicial Officers cannot be made time bound, we expect expediency on part of the High Court as well as the Law and Judiciary Department as, if the State has to target the aim of ‘speedy justice’ it must supplement it with the appointment procedure which shall be effectively implemented by the High Court as well as the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) as it is the recruiting agency for the feeder cadre,” the bench noted.
Seeking affidavits in response from the authorities, the HC posted further hearing to February 27.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
