Government has informed that in judiciary more than 5,600 post of judges are vacant across the country. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, two posts are vacant in the Supreme Court, 364 in High courts and more than five thousand in district and subordinate courts. Allahabad High Court has 160 sanctioned posts of judges out of which around half, 79 posts of judges are vacant. He also stated that in last five years around 500 judges were appointed in various high courts across the country.

Law minister also said that, every effort is made to fill up the existing vacancies expeditiously. Vacancies of judges in high courts do keep on arising on account of retirement, resignation or elevation of judges. He added that, Appointment of Judges of constitutional courts is a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between executive and judiciary. It requires consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities both at state and central level.

In reply to another question, Mr. Meghwal said, more than 19 thousand 500 cases are pending in Supreme Court for more than five years. In various high courts, more than 27 lakh cases are pending for more than five years.