HCs allowed to appoint ad hoc judges to clear backlog

Considering pendency of cases, the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the high courts to appoint ad hoc judges, not exceeding the 10 per cent of the court's total sanctioned strength.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi

CONSIDERING pendency of cases, the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the high courts to appoint ad hoc judges, not exceeding the 10 per cent of the court's total sanctioned strength.

According to the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), more than 62 lakh cases, including 16 lakh criminal ones, are pending before the HCs.

A special bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant relaxed and kept in abeyance certain conditions the top court had imposed in its April 20, 2021 judgment on appointment of ad hoc judges in HCs.

The verdict, authored by former Chief Justice S A Bobde, directed retired HC judges to be appointed as ad-hoc ones for a period of two to three years to clear the backlog.