HC collegiums yet to recommend names for 193 vacancies of judges: Government in Rajya Sabha

A total of 371 judges are empty in various high courts throughout the country, and Supreme Court College has not yet sent any suggestions for more than 50% of these empty positions, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

The government said that although the high courts had to make suggestions at least six months before the formation of a gap, the limit of this time was “rarely observed”.

In a written answer to a question of the opposition Mallikarjun Kharge leader, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that on July 18, 751 of the 1,122 judges were working against the sanction power of the judge.

Meghwal said that 371 judges were empty in various high courts and in these empty positions, and the 178 appointment proposal was in various processing stages between the government and the Supreme Court College.

The Minister said that the suggestions against 193 empty positions have not yet been taken from the Supreme Court College.

Procedure Consensus (MOP) – A series of documents guiding the appointment, transfer and rise of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court judges – the responsibility of initiation of proposals for the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court, the responsibility of initiating the judges for the appointment of judges in the high courts, the responsibility of the appointment of judges related to the high courts, the appointment of judges.

According to the MOP, the high courts must make suggestions at least six months before the emergence of a gap. However, this time limit is “rarely observed,” Meghwal said.

For the appointment of high courts, the views of the relevant state government are taken in accordance with the MOP. Suggestions must also be taken into consideration in the light of other reports that may be available for the government regarding the names taken into consideration.