HC understaffed, has only 9 judges out of 17 sanctioned

Ishfaq Tantry

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 4

The Supreme Court Collegium has reconsidered the transfer of Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Rajesh Bindal and recommended him to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, but the state’s highest judiciary remains understaffed.

The sanctioned strength of the J&K High Court judges is 17, including the Chief Justice. At present, half of the posts of judge at the High Court are vacant, adversely affecting the clearance of the cases.

The present strength of judges at the High Court is nine, including Chief Justice Gita Mittal. The other eight judges are Justice Alok Arade, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Justice Sindhu Sharma and Justice Rashid Ali Dar.

As and when Justice Rajesh Bindal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court joins, the strength of the HC judges would rise to 10. There would, however, still be a shortage of seven judges. As compared to the HC, the subordinate judiciary at the district level has better strength of judges.

Jammu district in the Jammu province has the highest number of 31 courts, including 11 sessions courts, 10 sub-judge courts and 10 munsif courts. As per official data of the High Court, at present all positions are headed by the judicial officers.

In the Kashmir division, Srinagar district has the highest 27 courts in the lower/sub-ordinate judiciary, including 12 sessions courts, eight sub-judge courts and seven munsif courts. All of them are currently headed by the respective judicial officers, reveals the official data. Kathua district has 12 courts, including two sessions courts. Samba district has five subordinate courts, including one sessions court. Reasi district has seven courts, including one sessions court.

Udhampur district has 10 courts, including two sessions courts, Kishtwar district has four courts, including one sessions court, while Ramban has eight courts, including one sessions court and two courts headed by the sub-judges.

Doda district has 12 courts, including two sessions courts, while Poonch has seven courts, including one sessions court. Rajouri district has 12 courts, including two sessions courts.

In the Kashmir division, Ganderbal district has five courts, including one sessions court, while Baramulla district has 15 courts, including four sessions courts. Kupwara district has 10 courts, including two sessions courts all headed by the respective judicial officers, reveals the official data.

Bandipora district has six courts, including one sessions court. Shopian district has four courts, including one sessions court, while Kulgam district has six courts, including one sessions court. Budgam district has nine courts, including one sessions court, the data reveals.

Pulwama district has eight courts, including two sessions courts, while Anantnag district has 12 courts in the lower judiciary, including two sessions courts. In the Ladakh region, Leh district has five courts, including one sessions court, and Kargil district has six courts, including one sessions court.