India Faces Shortage Of Judicial Officers And Judges In High Courts And District Courts

The Parliament was informed on Thursday that there are currently 367 vacancies for judges across various High Courts and a significant shortage of 5,320 judicial officers in the district and subordinate judiciary across different states. Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, addressed the issue in the Lok Sabha, providing an update on the efforts to fill these vacancies and improve the judicial infrastructure.

Vacancies In High Courts And District Courts

Meghwal highlighted that vacancies in the judiciary continue to arise due to factors such as the retirement, resignation, or elevation of judges, as well as an increase in the sanctioned strength of judicial positions. Since May 2014, the government has made efforts to address the issue by increasing the sanctioned strength of High Court judges from 906 to 1,122 as of today.

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Under a collaborative effort between the government and the judiciary, 1,013 judges have been appointed in various High Courts between 2014 and February 10, 2025. However, despite these efforts, the vacancy rate remains high. As per Meghwal’s statement, the Supreme Court currently has two vacancies out of a sanctioned strength of 34 judges.

Vacancy Breakdown Across High Courts

The highest number of judicial vacancies exists in Allahabad High Court, with 81 vacant positions. This is follow by Punjab and Haryana High Court with 34 vacancies, and Calcutta High Court with 29. Other High Courts such as Bombay and Delhi face significant vacancies as well, with 26 and 22 respectively. Both Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat High Courts have 20 vacancies each. The total sanctioned strength for High Court judges stands at 1,114, according to Meghwal.

The shortage is even more pronounced in the lower courts. Uttar Pradesh leads with 1,002 judicial vacancies in its subordinate courts, which have a sanctioned strength of 3,700 judicial officers. Other states facing substantial judicial vacancies include Gujarat with 535 vacancies, Bihar with 483, and Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, each with 346 vacancies. Madhya Pradesh follows with 336 vacancies, while Delhi has 94 vacancies in its lower courts.

In response to a question on Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), Meghwal provided an update on their functioning. As of December 31, 2024, there were 747 FTSCs operational across 30 states and Union Territories, including 406 exclusive POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) Courts. These courts have collectively disposed of around 3,00,000 rape and POCSO Act cases.

Extension Of FTSC Scheme For Expedited Justice

Meghwal confirm that the centrally-sponsore scheme for the establishment of FTSCs, which includes exclusive POCSO courts, extend till March 31, 2026. The extension aims to set up an additional 790 courts to ensure the speedy disposal of cases related to sexual offenses and child abuse.

This update from the Ministry of Law and Justice underscores the ongoing challenges faced by India’s judicial system in addressing judicial vacancies and expediting justice. As vacancies persist, efforts continue to ensure a more efficient and effective judicial system for the future.