Date:28/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/28/stories/2005012811120300.htm

New Delhi

Speed up judges' appointment, Bar urges Lahoti

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 27. Expressing concern over the inordinate delay in filling 23 vacancies of judges in the Madras High Court, the All-India Bar Association (AIBA) has urged the Chief Justice of India, R.C. Lahoti, to expedite the appointments.

In a statement, the chairman, Adish C. Agarwala, and the vice-chairman, S. Prabhakaran, said that of the sanctioned strength of 49 judges, including seven for the Madurai Bench, 23 posts were vacant. The recommendations pending for over a year were returned. The suggestions for making ad hoc appointments were also turned down. Consequently, the present High Court collegium sent fresh proposals for filling 12 vacancies. There was a huge backlog of cases, putting a strain on the existing judges. The AIBA leaders urged the CJI to expedite finalisation of the 12 names. As per the Memorandum of Procedure, the constitutional authorities were expected to send their comments to the proposals within six weeks. But invariably enormous delay was caused in sending the comments, the association said.