Parliament Watch: 146 names recommended for High Court judgeship pending with Centre, Supreme Court Collegium

The Winter Session of Parliament on Thursday saw replies to questions on topics ranging from Supreme Court Collegium proposals to the implementation of the Nyaya Mitra scheme..On a question by MPs Mallikarjun Kharge and Dr John Brittas in the Rajya Sabha, it was revealed by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju that the Central Government, at present, has no proposal to reintroduce the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) for appointment of judges.The answer also revealed that as on December 5, 2022, there is 1 proposal for appointment of a Supreme Court judge and 8 proposals for appointment of High Court judges that are pending with the Centre.Rijiju, further revealed there are 11 proposals for transfer of High Court judges, 1 proposal for transfer of a Chief Justice and 1 proposal for appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court recommended by the Collegium which are under consideration of the government.In the last five years, a total of 256 proposals have been remitted by the government to the High Courts on the advice of the Supreme Court Collegium, the response stated.The following table illustrates that 146 proposals recommended by various High Courts are at different stages of processing with the government and the Supreme Court Collegium..Rajya Sabha MP S Niranjan Reddy asked whether the government intends to introduce a policy for creating facilities for women in courts.He also asked whether it intends to amend the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the Development of Infrastructure Facilities for the judiciary to specifically make provisions for women lawyers and litigants..The reply stated that as per Supreme Court records, 26% of court complexes do not have a separate ladies’ toilet.Further, the scheme that is being implemented since 1993-94, and has been extended from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a budgetary outlay of ₹9,000 crore, including the central share of ₹5,307 crore. It added that besides the construction of court halls and residential quarters, the scheme now also covers the construction of lawyers’ halls, digital computer rooms and toilet complexes in the district and subordinate courts..On a question by Andhra Pradesh MP Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry of Law & Justice revealed that the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up Fast Track Special Courts under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act needs to be extended beyond March, 2023, given that 1,93,000 cases are still pending. "Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs)is operational till 31.03.2023. FTSCs have disposed more than 1,24,000 cases till October, 2022. However, more than 1,93,000 cases are still pending in these courts and hence, there is a need to extend the Scheme beyond March, 2023. Accordingly, an evaluation study of the Scheme has been taken up as per the instant provisions," the reply stated..Madhya Pradesh MP Rajmani Patel, among other things, sought details of civil and criminal trials that have been pending for over 10 years.The reply stated that as per information received from the Supreme Court of India, the number of matters pending before the apex court for more than 10 years is 11,049. The following data on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) reflects the number of civil and criminal cases pending in High Courts, district & subordinate courts for more than 10 years:.In response to questions on the implementation of the Nyaya Mitra Scheme, it was revealed that the since its introduction in 2017, a total of 39 Nyaya Mitras were engaged in the States of Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal..The Nyaya Mitras engaged so far have assisted the courts concerned in disposal of 6,832 old cases, which includes matrimonial cases, accident claims and also criminal cases, the reply stated.