The Supreme Court lashed out at the government on Friday for allegedly stalling high court judges’ appointment and threatened to pass orders to clear the “logjam”, potentially triggering the latest episode in a string of clashes between the executive and judiciary. India’s 24 high courts have nearly four million cases pending before them while another 30 million cases clog trial courts. “The Centre is attempting to bring the judiciary to a grinding halt by not appointing high court judges,” Thakur told attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, who promised to get back on the status of the list by September 13. But clearing this backlog is considered virtually impossible with the current strength of judges –in the high courts, 434 posts out a sanctioned strength of 1,056 remain vacant. Even in India’s top court that was originally set up in 1951 to oversee 1,215 cases by eight judges, now 31 judges have to decide on a staggering 60,000 cases annually.

Source: Hindustan Times August 12, 2016 09:11 UTC