New Delhi, July 05: Even as nearly 40 lakh cases are pending, the various high courts in the country are short of 232 judges, according to a latest estimate.
As per June, 2009 estimate, the 21 high courts in the country have a total sanctioned strength of 886 judges. But the actual working strength is 654 judges.
The Allahabad High Court, which has the maximum number of sanctioned strength of 160 judges in the country, has 72 vacancies.
At present, proposals for appointment of 42 judges in various high courts are under consideration by the government, official sources said.
To fill up the remaining 190 vacancies in both the bar and judicial services, proposals are to be initiated by Chief Justices of the various high courts.
A December, 2008 estimate says 39,14,669 cases were pending in the various HCs.
The Law Commission in its 120th report a few years ago had recommended that the strength of judges per million population may be increased from 10.5 to 50 judges (per million).
–PTI