Modi Govt extends Olive Branch: Accepts CJI Thakur's proposal on re-employment of Retd. Judges

November,6,2016:It took the government six months to agree to a resolution passed by the judiciary to re-employ them to cut pendency.

Union Government after a gap of 6 months has agreed to the resolution passed by the judiciary in the Chief Justices and Chief Ministers Annual Conference in 2016 to use the services of the retired High Court judges with the proven integrity and track record to tackle the pendency of the cases.

Resolution which was passed by the Delay and Arrears Committees of judiciary, had been delayed continuously since April.

Under Article 224A, Constitution of India, Chief Justice of India can use services of retired judges with previous consent of President of India as an extraordinary measure to tide over the huge pile of cases.

‘Five plus zero’ Initiative: ‘Five plus zero’ is an initiative by which cases are pending over five years are taken up on the priority basis and their numbers are brought down to zero.

In High Courts, where arrears of the cases pending for more than five years are concentrated shall facilitate their disposal in a “mission mode.”

High Courts shall then progressively set a target of disposing of the cases pending for more than four years.

As on June 30 while the total sanctioned strength was 21,303, the subordinate courts were functioning with strength 16,192 judicial officers at a shortage of 5,111.

24 High Courts are facing a shortage of nearly 450 judges. Nearly three crore cases are pending in the Courts across India.