Centre Increases Sanctioned Bench Strength Of J&K&L High Court From 17 To 25

This decision was communicated in a letter by the Union Minister of Law and Justice, Arjun Meghwal.

The letter dated November 05, 2024 read, “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 further outlines the process for filling these newly sanctioned positions. It specifies that 66% of the additional posts will be designated for members of the Bar, while the remaining 33% will be reserved for Service candidates. The Ministry has emphasized the importance of including candidates from diverse and underrepresented groups, such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities, and Women, in order to promote inclusivity and diversity in the judicial system.

In addition, the Ministry has urged the Chief Justice to expedite the process of finalizing and submitting proposals for the appointment of judges to these newly approved positions. This increase in the judicial strength was officially approved following discussions with the Chief Justice of India and came into effect on October 25, 2024.