Jammu, May 26: With around 2.80 lakh cases pending in various courts of the state, the Jammu and Kashmir government is eagerly waiting for Center’s nod on the proposal sent by Governor NN Vohra to fill the vacant posts of six High Court judges.
Sources informed Greater Kashmir that the proposal for filling of six vacant posts of High Court Judges has recently been forwarded by the Governor to Union Ministry of Law. “The posts of six judges were lying vacant affecting the justice delivery system in the state”, official sources said adding that a collegium of state High Court had recommended names of seven persons, including two judges, to be appointed as the additional HC Judges.
The names recommended by Governor NN Vohra to Union Law Ministry included Special Judge CBI Court BL Bhat and Registrar General Janak Raj Kotwal from the Bench Quota; Additional Advocate General Ali Muhammad Magray, Designated Senior Lawyer Dheeraj Singh Thakur, Advocate Azharul Amin, Advocate Tashi Robertson of Leh from the Bar quota.
Sources said that the state Law department, on the recommendation of the High Court, forwarded the proposal to the Governor NN Vohra, who after its approval recommended it further to the Union Law Ministry. “The Central Law Ministry has to clear the proposal before the Supreme Court of India takes a final decision”, sources added.
“After getting nod of Union Law Ministry, the proposal will be forwarded to collegium of Supreme Court of India,” sources said, adding that the collegium of Supreme Court would forward the same to Union Home Ministry which would forward it to President of India for final nod for the appointment.
They further said that state High Court has the total strength of 14 judges out of which 8 posts were presently laying vacant. This also included the post of Chief Justice of the state High Court, which has fallen vacant after the elevation of Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla to Supreme Court.
Due to vacant posts of Judges the number of pending cases is increasing with each passing day. “There were nearly 2,80,000 cases pending in different courts across the state, which include more than 82000 pending for disposal in both wings of the High Court”, official sources said.
A member of the Bar Association Jammu said that the pending cases were piling up mainly due to the shortage of judges. “Recently the Acting Chief Justice, Justice V Singh had to work even during the transit period of Durbar Move at Jammu wing”, he said.
Pertinently, Justice M.M. Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was recommended to be the next Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. However, he is yet to be elevated for some unknown reasons.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 IST