Bengaluru: The Advocates’ Association Bengaluru (AAB) has written an urgent appeal to Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, requesting that the Supreme Court Collegium under his leadership take immediate action to fill the long-pending vacancies in the Karnataka High Court.
In the letter addressed to the CJI, the AAB expressed deep concern over the growing judicial burden on sitting judges due to the stagnation in appointments, which has led to mounting case backlogs and delayed justice for litigants.
17 Judicial Vacancies Crippling Karnataka High Court
Currently, the Karnataka High Court is operating with only 45 judges against a sanctioned strength of 62, leaving 17 positions vacant. This significant shortfall, the AAB said, is adversely affecting the court’s efficiency across its three benches – in Bengaluru, Dharwad, and Kalaburagi.
The letter emphasized that the existing judges are working overtime, yet are unable to keep pace with the sheer volume of pending cases, some of which are civil matters pending for several years.
Backlog, Delays, and Litigants Left Waiting
The Association underlined the urgent need for appointments by citing the impact of vacancies on the listing of writ matters, particularly ‘B group’ cases, which are reportedly not being listed at all, forcing litigants into indefinite waits for justice.
“There is no addition to the depleting strength of judges, and the stagnation in appointments is compounding the backlog problem,” the letter read. “Thousands of civil matters are pending for years due to this crisis.”
Call for Broad Social Representation in Judicial Appointments
In a notable appeal, the AAB also urged the CJI to ensure diversity and inclusiveness in judicial appointments. The letter requested that the Karnataka High Court Collegium propose names that ensure broad social representation, encompassing various communities and backgrounds.
AAB Appeals for Swift Collegium Action
The bar body’s letter concluded with a strong appeal – “We request you, Sir, as the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, to issue directions to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court and the Collegium of Judges to immediately propose and process appointments to fill the current vacancies swiftly and inclusively.”
With judicial pendency continuing to rise nationwide, the situation in Karnataka has become a point of concern for legal professionals and litigants alike. The ball is now in the court of the Supreme Court Collegium and the Union Government, who will have to coordinate to address this pressing issue.
