Punjab and Haryana High Court Recommends Elevation of 15 Judges Amid Severe Shortage

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, grappling with a 40 per cent shortage of judges and a backlog of over 4.32 lakh cases, has proposed the elevation of 15 District and Sessions Judges. This recommendation, made after a gap of more than two years, includes eight judges from Punjab and seven from Haryana.

The decision, taken by the High Court Collegium during its recent meeting, comes as the court faces an alarming pendency of cases. Data from the National Judicial Data Grid reveals that nearly 85 per cent of these cases have remained unresolved for over a year, with some stretching back almost four decades. Of the total pending cases, 2,68,279 are civil matters, while 1,63,948 are criminal cases, severely impacting fundamental rights, including life and liberty.

The last elevation of District and Sessions Judges to the high court occurred in November 2022. Despite efforts to address legacy matters, the backlog has persisted, with over 48,386 second appeals still pending, including five dating back to 1986.

Currently, the high court operates with only 51 judges against a sanctioned strength of 85, and three more judges are set to retire this year. The lengthy appointment process, requiring clearances from state governments, governors, the Supreme Court Collegium, and the Union Law Ministry, has further delayed filling these vacancies. This process often takes several months, adding to the strain on the judicial system.

Statistics indicate that 15 per cent of pending cases are less than a year old, 30 per cent have been unresolved for five to ten years, and a concerning 29 per cent have been pending for over a decade.