The Supreme Court on Thursday (Nov 1) pulled up Delhi government for not filling up huge judicial vacancies. Expressing disappointment over the backlog of 200 vacancies, the bench comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices U U Lalit, K M Joseph said that if they are not able to fill up the vacancies, then SC would do it.

“Delhi is the most deficient in the process. What is the reason of delay, litigation! Total numbers of applicants are 200 and you’re taking 2 years. What is this laidback attitude? You may give 1001 excuse but is this really justifiable. If you can’t do it, we will do it,” said CJI.

While the Senior Counsel for Delhi government submitted that infrastructure for higher judiciary is adequate, CJI interjected and asked then why is contrary been stated in the report that the infrastructure for higher judiciary is inadequate.

CJI further expressed disappointment at the excuses by the States for the non-filing up of the vacancies and said: “All the states are under our gaze, if you can’t fill up the vacancies, we will take over that task from you and we will make it a centralised process.”

CJI also pulled up Punjab and Haryana govt and Punjab and Haryana High Court for delay in recruitments on the account of website snag.

Amicus curiae for Haryana govt suggested to the bench that on each separate dates, 4-5 high court’s contentions should be taken up wherein law secretary and the registrar of those courts can come here and discuss their situation and problems in person.

Upon the submissions of amicus curiae, the bench said it will schedule the hearing based on the batches of 4-5 courts. And scheduled the next hearing to November 15, and said that on Nov 15, Delhi Government will also put up their plans.

In the meanwhile the registrar General and authorised officer of chief secretary will interact within themselves to draw and plan a structure to fill up the deficiencies, the bench added.

—India Legal Bureau