Vacancies in judiciary biggest test: TS Thakur

A few days after assuming the office as the 43rd CJI, Justice T.S. Thakur on Sunday said the biggest challenge facing him and the judiciary is the task of filling over 400 vacancies in various high courts.

Talking to journalists, the CJI said “our immediate priority is to fill 400 vacancies. In Allahabad HC alone there are 100 vacancies. This is a huge task as we have to find the right persons for appointment. Clearing a backlog of over three crore cases pending in judiciary is also a big challenge.”

Asked whether he would await the Constitution bench verdict on improving the collegiums system, CJI Thakur said “I think it is prudent to wait for the judgment. It will be better if I know how I will have to work.”

Asked about the four vacancies in the apex court and whether he would have representation for all HCs, he said, “It is true there is only one representation for Allahabad HC. Smaller HCs must get representation but it must be based on merit and suitability.”

On PILs, he said it should espouse the cause of underprivileged and not settle scores against someone. It is necessary to find out as to who is behind the PIL.

On death penalty, Justice Thakur said as long as death penalty is in the statute, we have to follow it. The SC has already upheld it. There is a debate going on in various countries whether death penalty is civilised or not and there is a strong movement against its imposition. “I feel it should be awarded in rarest of rare cases like terrorism where if the accused is found guilty death punishment alone can be awarded and this is what is being done now.”

On “Clean Ganga” project, Justice Thakur said it is not an adversarial litigation. Ganges is linked with our civilisation and cleaning it is an enormous task involving various authorities. “I feel an awareness must be created among the public. Unless there is a concerted campaign it will be difficult to bring immediate results.”

On the issue relating to the release of the juvenile accused in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case, Chief Justice Thakur said amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act is before the Parliament and the Supreme Court has kept aside similar cases of juveniles accused of heinous crimes to wait for the final word from the law makers.