PIL Filed in Allahabad High Court Over 50% Judicial Vacancy Amidst 11 Lakh Pending Cases

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Allahabad High Court, highlighting the critical shortage of judges and the immense backlog of pending cases. The PIL, filed by Senior Advocate Satish Trivedi and supported by other advocates, urges the court to take immediate and time-bound action to fill the 50% judicial vacancies in the court.

Key Issues Raised in the PIL

• Vacancy of Judicial Posts: Out of the sanctioned strength of 160 judges, only 79 judges are in position, leaving 81 vacancies. This vacancy rate has significantly affected the court's ability to hear cases efficiently.
  
  
• Massive Case Backlog: With a population of 24 crore and a staggering 11.55 lakh pending cases, the PIL highlights that there is only one judge for every 30 lakh people, and each judge is handling an average of 14,623 cases. Even if the vacancies are filled, it will still leave one judge for every 15 lakh people, which is still a significant challenge.
  
  
• Threat to Constitutional Functions: The PIL argues that the current vacancy crisis threatens the fundamental right of citizens to access justice and speedy trials under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
  

Proposed Solutions

The petition calls for an urgent and transparent process to restore the full judicial strength and proposes several measures, including:

1. Mandatory Accountability Mechanism: The establishment of judicial guidelines requiring the recommendation of candidates for judicial elevation six months before any vacancy arises.
2. Expedited Process: A streamlined process to fill vacancies as soon as they occur, ensuring there is no gap in judicial appointments.
3. Restoration of Full Strength: The goal is to ensure the High Court functions at its full sanctioned strength of 160 judges, thereby reducing the burden on individual judges and speeding up case adjudication.

Worsening Crisis

The PIL notes that the Allahabad High Court is experiencing one of the gravest crises in its history, with a backlog of over 11 lakh cases and more than 50% of judicial positions vacant. This situation not only hampers the court's efficiency but also erodes public confidence in the judicial system.

Supreme Court Concern

Recently, the Supreme Court raised concerns over the high case pendency in the Allahabad High Court. Justice JB Pardiwala noted that many cases have been pending for decades, and the court is struggling with the existing shortage of judges, with each judge handling 15,000-20,000 cases. He emphasized that filling vacancies on merit was the only way forward.

Conclusion

The PIL serves as a call to action for the Allahabad High Court and judicial authorities to address the critical issue of judicial vacancies and backlog of cases. The court's ability to function efficiently and provide timely justice depends on prompt appointments and a streamlined judicial process. The matter remains crucial for upholding constitutional rights and ensuring effective judicial administration.