The appointment of judges in India remains a crucial subject, particularly concerning the representation of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women in the judiciary. A recent response by the Ministry of Law and Justice in the Rajya Sabha (Unstarred Question No. 1075) sheds light on key aspects of judicial appointments, vacancies, and diversity in the system.
Click here to read the official response from the Law Ministry on Judicial Appointments.
Representation of SC/ST and Women in Judiciary
While there is no constitutional reservation for SCs, STs, or OBCs in appointing High Court and Supreme Court judges, the government has encouraged diversity through informal mechanisms. As per official data:
Since 2018, 698 judges have been appointed to High Courts, of which 108 are women, 22 belong to SC, 15 to ST, 87 to OBCs, and 37 are from minority communities.
In District and Subordinate Courts, about 19% of the total judges belong to SC/ST categories. The highest representation is seen in Mizoram (100%), Arunachal Pradesh (97%), and Meghalaya (95%), while states like Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar, and West Bengal report no SC/ST judges.
Vacancies in High Courts
The issue of vacant judicial positions continues to be a major challenge:
As of February 7, 2025, there are 367 vacancies in High Courts across India, out of a total sanctioned strength of 1,122 judges.The Allahabad High Court has the highest number of vacancies (81 out of 160 sanctioned posts), followed by Punjab & Haryana (34 vacancies) and Bombay (26 vacancies).
Judge-to-Population Ratio in India
The judge-to-population ratio is often cited as a key indicator of judicial efficiency. Based on the 2011 Census population of 1.21 billion, India has approximately 21 judges per million people. This is still significantly lower than in many developed nations, leading to concerns over delays in justice delivery.
Government’s Efforts and Challenges
While the government has urged High Court Chief Justices to ensure social diversity in recommendations, the appointment process remains largely in the hands of the Collegium system. Without systemic reforms, addressing judicial vacancies and improving diversity will continue to be a challenge.
Conclusion
Ensuring adequate representation and reducing judicial vacancies is essential for a robust justice system in India. Expediting the appointment process and maintaining a balanced representation of different communities, including SC/ST and women, would contribute to greater public trust and efficiency in the judiciary.
