Bhubaneswar: As many as 12 Judge posts are lying vacant in Orissa High Court which has a sanctioned strength of 33 Judges. As of March 14, 2022, the working strength of Orissa HC was 21.
As per information shared by Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju in the Lok Sabha, Orissa HC has a sanctioned strength of 24 Permanent Judges and 9 Additional Judges. All the 9 Additional Judge posts lie vacant while 3 Permanent Judge posts are yet to be filled.
During the last eight years (2014 to 2022), 14 Judges have been appointed to Orissa High Court with the maximum (4) in 2021. This year, 3 Judges were appointed in Orissa HC, the Minister’s reply revealed.
As on March 14, 2022, against the sanctioned strength of 1104 Judges in the High Courts, 699 Judges are in position, leaving 405 vacancies of Judges to be filled. Against 405 Vacancies, at present, 175 proposals are at various stages of processing between the Government and the Supreme Court Collegium. Further recommendations from High Court Collegiums are yet to be received in respect of 230 vacancies in High Courts.
Filling up of vacancies in the High Courts is a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between the Executive and the Judiciary. It requires consultation and approval from various Constitutional Authorities both at the State and Centre level, the Law Ministry stated.
“While every effort is made to fill up the existing vacancies expeditiously, vacancies of Judges in High Courts do keep on arising on account of retirement, resignation or elevation of Judges and also due to increase in the strength of Judges,” Rijiju said.
