By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 8, 2016 : The country needs about 70,000 judges for smooth conduct of the courts and clearing the huge backlog of cases, according to Chief Justice of India TS Thakur. There are around 18, 000 judges in the country at present.

About three crore cases are pending in different courts while 30 lakh cases are awaiting disposal before the High Courts. Out of 900 sanctioned posts for judges in High Courts across the country, about 450 are lying vacant, Thakur informed.

Addressing the centennial celebration of the first sitting of the Circuit Bench of High Court for Orissa at Cuttack, the CJI said the shortage of judges is a formidable challenge.

“While the judiciary is keen to ensure that appointment of judges is made quickly, the machinery involved with the appointment of judges continues to grind very slowly,” Thakur lamented.
Law Commission in 1987 had pegged the requirement of judges at 44,000 judges. Even after 30 years, the judiciary system continues to operate with a depleted strength, he said. The current requirement would be 70,000 judges considering the population growth and litigations, he added.

Expressing grave concern over huge vacancies in the courts and the slow process of appointment of judges, Justice Thakur said, people cannot be denied justice. “Access to justice is a fundamental right and no government can afford to deny people their fundamental right,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the State Government has accorded priority to infrastructure for judiciary. The Government has submitted proposal for setting up 30 special Judicial Magistrate courts and 26 JMFC courts.

Supreme Court Judge Justice Dipak Mishra, Chief Justice Orissa High Vineet Saran and Justice Indrajit Mohanty, Judge of Orissa High Court also spoke.