CONTEXT Recently the Supreme Court has decided to invoke a “dormant provision” in the Constitution to clear the way for appointment of retired judges as ad hoc judges to clear the mounting arrears in the various High Courts.

PROVISION USED

The Court has chosen to activate Article 224A of the Constitution, which provides for appointment of ad hoc judges in the High Courts based on their consent.

WHY THIS WAS STEP TAKEN?

• The Supreme Court has made it clear that “the challenge of mounting arrears and existing vacancies requires recourse to Article 224A”.
• The numbers both in respect of pendency of cases and vacancies in the High Courts are quite concerning — a backlog of over 57 lakh cases, and a vacancy level of 40%.

IS IT THE RIGHT STEP TO BE TAKEN?

• This step is an indictment of the extraordinary delay in filling up judicial vacancies.
• The unacceptable delay in the appointment process in recent times has caused huge vacancies in the High Courts.
• This delay can be attributed to the ongoing tussle between the collegium system of judiciary and the delay on the part of the government to accept the recommendations of the collegium.  
• Official data suggest that there need not be a correlation between the number of vacancies and the large backlog.
• Therefore, it is definitely not unwelcome that the Court has chosen to activate Article 224A of the Constitution.

SUPREME COURTS GUIDELINES ON SUCH APPOINTMENTS

• The Court has directed that the trigger point for such an appointment will be:
  • when the vacancies go beyond 20% of the sanctioned strength,
  • or when more than 10% of the backlog of pending cases are over five years old;
  • or when cases in a particular category are pending for over five years,
  • or when the rate of disposal is slower than the rate of institution of fresh cases.

MEMORANDUM OF PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED

The Bench has ruled that the current Memorandum of Procedure to be followed for appointing ad hoc judges:

• a process initiated by the Chief Justice of a High Court, with a suggested tenure of two to three years.
• The Court has clarified that this is a “transitory methodology” and does not constrain the regular appointment process.

CONCLUSION 

• The government, which did not oppose the proposal, but wanted the vacancies to be filled up first, would do well to expedite the regular appointment process from its end, and give up its tendency to hold back some recommendations selectively.
• As for the judiciary, it should ensure that only retired judges with experience and expertise are offered the temporary positions, and there is no hint of favouritism.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/judges-pro-tem-the-hindu-editorial-on-appointment-of-ad-hoc-judges-in-high-courts/article34387881.ece