On the Spot: Crying need for judicial reform

In a significant step to tackle mounting cases, a conference of chief ministers and chief justices of high courts today adopted a resolution to invoke a constitutional provision to appoint retired judicial officers as ad hoc judges. According to latest Law Ministry figures, the approved strength of the subordinate judiciary is 20,214 with 4,580 vacancies. The approved strength of the 24 high courts is 1,056 and the vacancy was pegged at 458 as on March one. In the apex court, there are six vacancies against the sanctioned strength of 31 judges.