CJI salvo at government over retired judges

New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur on Tuesday took on the Centre once again for not clearing even the re-appointment of 25 retired judges as ad hoc judges for various high courts in the country.

CJI sitting with Justices D.Y. Chadnrachud and L. nageswara Rao told Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh,“There are more than 50 per cent vacancies in high courts. There are people (judges) who are retired. Those who are retired, tried and tested are to be appointed. Twenty five names are lying with you. You have not cleared it.”

The court was hearing a PIL filed by Imtiaz Ahmed on inrastrucutre improvement in judiciary and more allocation of funds.

The ASG told the court that the Centre had allocated Rs 9000 crore for infrastructural development of high courts/subordinate courts for the period starting from April 2015. But the CJI pointed out that the allocation did not reflect in the existing infrastructure in various high courts as States say they have no resources.