The government has raised the approved number of judges in the J&K&L High Court from 17 to 25.
The Ministry of Law and Justice has notified Justice Tashi Rabstan, the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, about an increase in the number of judges for the High Court. The total number of judges will go up from 17 to 25. This information was shared in a letter from the Union Minister of Law and Justice, Arjun Meghwal, dated November 05, 2024. The letter stated, “The Judge strength of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has been reviewed and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, it has been decided to increase the Judge Strength of the High Court from 17 to 25 Judges, with 19 Permanent Judges and 06 Additional Judges.”
The letter also details how to fill these new positions. It mentions that 66% of the additional posts will be for members of the Bar, while 33% will be for Service candidates. The Ministry highlighted the need to include candidates from diverse and underrepresented groups, such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities, and Women, to enhance inclusivity in the judicial system. Additionally, the Ministry has asked the Chief Justice to speed up the process of finalizing and submitting proposals for the appointment of judges to these new roles. This increase in judicial strength was officially approved after discussions with the Chief Justice of India and took effect on October 25, 2024.
