KALINDI ADLAKHA

BBA LLB BATCH 2

Adm. No.- 13gsol103050

Sweeping change over 5 yrs

The National Judicial Appointments Commission brought in by the NDA government could be
appointing 21 judges to the Supreme Court during Narendra Modis tenure. That makes up 68
per cent of the total strength of 31 judges in the apex court.
Given the corresponding 759 possible vacancies that may arise in the 24 high courts across the
country till May 2019, the new NJAC could be involved in selection of 80 per cent of those
judges, including chief justices of almost all the high courts, over five years.
* First to retire: Present CJI R M Lodha
The constitutional amendment Bill cleared by Parliament last week, enabling the establishment
of the NJAC to replace the collegium system, has to be ratified by at least half of the state
legislatures. That process may be completed by early next year, clearing the way for the NJAC to
start functioning.
Exclusive: Read what the best minds think about judicial accountability
The six-member body would then be responsible for deciding appointments to the higher
judiciary, including the Supreme Court, as well as for transfers of sitting judges.
An analysis of the data kept by the Ministry of Law and Justice as well as the Supreme Court and
high courts shows that by mid-May 2019, when the next general elections are scheduled, there
would be 21 vacancies in the apex court. Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65 years and
there is already one vacancy in the court.
In the high courts, the NJAC may be required to fill 759 possible permanent and additional
vacancies in that period.
As per Law Ministry figures, as on August 1, 318 of the total 950 posts of high court judges, or
34 per cent, are vacant. That includes 175 of the 642 permanent posts, and 143 of the 308
additional posts. High court judges retire at 62 years.

The previous UPA government had introduced a constitutional amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha
in August 2010 to increase the retirement age of high court judges to 65 years. However, the Bill
didnt go through.
If there is no change in the retirement age, by the end of the Modi government, 80 per cent posts
in high courts would need to be filled up. This figure would be even higher if one takes into
consideration that additional judges are appointed for a two-year period and, if their performance
is found satisfactory, they are re-appointed for a further two years.
In the Supreme Court, the first one to retire will be current Chief Justice of India R M Lodha,
whose term ends on September 29.

Court Record
Judges

Numbers

Supreme Court strength

31

Vacancies likely to arise till May 2019

21

Current Vacancy

Retirements in 2015

Retirements in 2016

Retirements in 2017

Retirements in 2018

Retirements in 2019