From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala has assigned different senior advocates as amici curiae (friends of court) to consider the judicial vacancies in trial courts state-wise on specified dates.
It sought help of the amiciis on two broad issues: 1. Vacancies in district judiciaries and 2. Infrastructure, including disbursement of funds by HCs.
Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria filed a status report on the High Courts of Orisa, MP, Patna and Punjab and Haryana. The top court will decide the situation in these states and HCs on Feb 2.
On 9 Feb 2023, Senior Advocate Vishwanathan, will address the court with reference to HCs of Gujarat, J&K, Kerala, Karnataka, Jharkhand. Senior Advocate Shyam Divan has been asked to address the position in the High Courts of the states of Maharashtra, UP, West Bengal Chhattisgarh, Delhi and North Eastern states on Feb 17.
Advocate Gaurav Agrawal is to deal with High Courts of Rajasthan, Sikkim, and Telangana on February 18. Registrar Generals of HCs and Law secretaries of these states shall be present during the proceedings through live streaming.
The Court further directed that within one week, the Law Secretaries and Registrars shall interact amongst themselves so that comprehensive position is given to the respective amicus.
The bench also asked Additional Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee to take instructions from the Union Government. A senior member of the Ministry of law and justice shall be present to assist him.
One counsel suggested that an online portal can be developed to update the status of vacancies in all states. Agreeing with the suggestion, CJI said he would speak to the SC secretary general to have an online portal.
The CJI requested amicus curiae K Parameshwar to prepare a concept note for the setting up of a web portal on which all info can be updated by HCs and Law secretaries of the states both on the judicial appointments and infrastructure, including manpower on real time basis.
The arrangements stem from the pending case of Malik Mazhar Sultan vs UP Public Service Commission, in which it has been passing orders from time to time on the filling up of the judicial vacancies in the trial courts.
