Govt grants extension to 8 additional judges after SC nod

Earlier, the apex court had allowed a three-month extension to additional judges whose terms were coming to an end in coming weeks

With the system of appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the high courts in a limbo, the government today granted extension to eight additional judges after getting a nod from the Supreme Court.

During a recent hearing on the constitutional validity of the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, the Supreme Court had allowed a three-month extension to additional judges whose terms were coming to an end in the coming weeks, as an interim measure.

Government is of the view that the vacuum created by the court case could create a further shortage of judges. The 24 high courts in the country were functioning with 651 judges as against the approved strength of 1017 judges as of May 1 -- a shortfall of 366 judges.

The normal practice is that additional judges of high courts are appointed for a two-year term and are elevated as permanent judges based on their conduct and performance. Some are given extension of another two years while a few are asked to leave.

A Law Ministry statement said here that Amaresh Kumar Lal will be an additional judge of the Patna High Court with effect from June 20 till August 27.

Similarly, Zaka Azizul Haq, Shriram Kalpathi Rajendran, Gautam Shirish Patel, Atul Sharachchandra Chandurkar, Revati Prashant Mohite Dere, Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak and Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge will be additional judges of the Bombay High Court for a period of three months with effect from June 21.