Srinagar, Aug 07 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has 13 vacant posts against a sanctioned strength of 25 judges, while 55 posts are vacant in the subordinate judiciary of Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
As per the reply by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal to an unstarred question raised by MP Tangella Uday Srinivas, the J&K and Ladakh High Court has a sanctioned strength of 25 judges, of whom 12 are currently working, leaving 13 vacancies as on August 3, 2026.
The ministry, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the subordinate judiciary in Jammu and Kashmir has a sanctioned strength of 322 judicial officers, against which 267 are working, and 55 posts remain vacant.
In Ladakh, the subordinate courts have a sanctioned strength of 17 judicial officers, of whom eight are working, leaving nine vacancies.
Uday Srinivas had asked the government about the sanctioned, working and vacant strength of judges in the Supreme Court, High Courts and subordinate courts, besides seeking details of judicial appointments made during the last five years and steps taken to address vacancies and case pendency.
In reply, Meghwal said appointment of judges in the higher judiciary is a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between the executive and judiciary and involves consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities at the State and Central levels.
He said that from May 2014 till August 3, 2026, a total of 77 judges had been appointed to the Supreme Court and 1,178 judges to various High Courts.
During the last five years, nine judges were appointed to the Supreme Court in 2021, three in 2022, 14 in 2023, four in 2024, seven in 2025 and five till August 3, 2026. In the High Courts, 120 appointments were made in 2021, 165 in 2022, 110 in 2023, 34 in 2024, 157 in 2025 and 22 till August 3, 2026.
The minister said filling vacant positions of judicial officers in district and subordinate courts is the responsibility of the concerned High Courts and State Governments.
He said the respective state governments, in consultation with the High Courts, frame rules and regulations for appointment and recruitment of judicial officers, while the Supreme Court's January 2007 order in the Malik Mazhar Sultan case has stipulated timelines to be followed by States and High Courts for recruitment in district and subordinate courts.
The ministry said the sanctioned strength of judicial officers in district and subordinate courts across the country increased from 24,492 in 2021 to 30,868 as on August 3, 2026, while the working strength increased from 19,328 to 23,558 during the same period.
On case pendency, Meghwal said disposal of cases pending in various courts lies within the domain of the judiciary and depends on several factors, including availability of judges and judicial officers, supporting staff, infrastructure, complexity of cases, quality of investigation, evidence and cooperation of stakeholders.
"The government is committed to speedy disposal of cases and reducing pendency and has taken several measures, including timely appointment of judges, improvement and computerisation of court infrastructure, policy and legislative measures, promotion of Alternate Dispute Resolution, implementation of new criminal laws, establishment of Fast Track Special Courts, re-engineering of court procedures and human resource development," the minister said—(KNO)