From 24 to 42 judges: Telangana HC bench strength increased by 75 %
A long pending demand of the Telangana high court has been fulfilled after the Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana gave his nod to increase the bench strength by 75 percent.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 9 Jun 2021 11:33 AM GMT
Hyderabad: A long pending demand of the Telangana high court has been fulfilled after the Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana gave his nod to increase the bench strength by 75 percent.
Sanctioned Bench Strength will go up from 24 to 42 judges. Of them, 32 will be permanent judges and 10 will be additional judges
Elevations from Bar will be 28 and 14 others will be from the judicial services. This is the biggest jump in a long time.
The increase in sanctioned Bench strength of the Telangana high court will come into effect from June 8, the date on which Justice Ramana gave his approval.
In view of the proportionately higher pendency in Telangana High Court, a proposal for an increase in sanctioned Bench strength was sent to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice on February 13, 2019. It was endorsed by CM and the then Governor of Telangana.
The Ministry examined the proposal in detail but kept it in abeyance. After Telangana CM sent a letter to the PM, the matter was revisited by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
After re-examination, the Ministry conveyed to the then Telangana high court chief justice (CJ) that the preference should be given to filling-up vacancies first. Later the matter again was put in cold storage.
Soon after assuming charge as the CJI, Justice Ramana revived the proposal. He took up with the Prime Minister and Law Minister a host of issues concerning the judiciary including the request of bench strength of Telangana high court.
Both Prime Minister and Law Minister readily agreed to get the matters examined expeditiously. Thereafter, the CJI took up the matter of the High Court of Telangana specifically with the Union Minister for Law and Justice on July 27, 2021.
In his letter the fact, he sought the increase in sanctioned Bench Strength from 24 to 42. The CJI opined that the current strength, even after all the vacancies are filled, is highly inadequate to address the pendency.
The pendency has gone up alarmingly to 2. 37 lakh cases (2.3 lakh Civil and 34000 Criminal). Quoting from earlier communications, the CJI affirmed that the necessary infrastructure is in place to accommodate 42 Judges in Telangana High Court.
Justice Ramana asked the government to accede to the reasonable request made by the high court and duly endorsed by the Telangana CM.
.After receiving CJI's letter, Law Ministry swung into action and concurred with the proposal to enhance the sanctioned Bench strength from 24 to 42
With the CJI giving his requisite final approval to the proposed hike on June 8, decks have been cleared for issuing the formal notification.
