The Union Government recently appointed four Additional Judges to the Bombay High Court for a period of two years. This move comes as part of efforts to address the rising backlog of cases and the increasing workload in the judiciary. But what exactly is the role of Additional Judges, and why are they appointed?
What Are Additional Judges?
Additional Judges are appointed to a High Court under Article 224 (1) of the Indian Constitution. The President of India has the authority to appoint these judges for a specific period, which cannot exceed two years. Their appointment helps manage situations where the workload or backlog in a High Court requires temporary assistance.
Tenure and Conditions
Tenure: Additional Judges can serve for a period as specified by the President, but this period cannot exceed two years.
Retirement Age: They cannot hold office after attaining the age of 62 years, the standard retirement age for High Court judges.
Why Are Additional Judges Appointed?
There are primarily two reasons for the appointment of Additional Judges:
Temporary Increase in Workload: If there is a sudden surge in the number of cases in a High Court, the President may appoint additional judges to help manage the temporary increase.
Arrears of Cases: When a significant backlog of cases builds up, making it difficult for the regular judges to keep up, the appointment of Additional Judges helps speed up the judicial process.
Significance of These Appointments
The appointment of Additional Judges plays a critical role in improving the efficiency of the judicial system. With India’s courts grappling with pending cases, these temporary appointments provide much-needed relief, ensuring faster resolution of disputes and improving overall justice delivery.
Conclusion
In a country like India, where the judiciary is often burdened with backlogs, the appointment of Additional Judges serves as an essential mechanism to ensure that justice is not delayed. By temporarily increasing the strength of judges, the system can better address both the rising case load and the long-standing arrears in many courts.
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