Collegium clears 3 names for HC judges appointment

The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) collegium is learnt to have cleared the names of three Haryana superior judicial service officers for elevation to the posts of additional judge of the HC. The names of legal remembrancer and administrative secretary, Haryana (law and legislative department), Kuldip Jain; Faridabad district and sessions judge Inderjeet Mehta; and Panipat district and sessions judge Anil Kumar Singh Panwar -- top three as per seniority -- were cleared by the collegium in the first week of December.

The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) collegium is learnt to have cleared the names of three Haryana superior judicial service officers for elevation to the posts of additional judge of the HC.

The HC collegium comprises chief justice SJ Vazifdar and two other senior-most judges, justices SS Saron and AK Mittal. (HT Representative Image)

The names of legal remembrancer and administrative secretary, Haryana (law and legislative department), Kuldip Jain; Faridabad district and sessions judge Inderjeet Mehta; and Panipat district and sessions judge Anil Kumar Singh Panwar -- top three as per seniority -- were cleared by the collegium in the first week of December.

The HC collegium comprises chief justice SJ Vazifdar and two other senior-most judges, justices SS Saron and AK Mittal. The names are learnt to have been sent to the state government as well as to the Supreme Court for their consideration. Panwar is to retire later this month.

The current strength of judges in the HC is 46, including the chief justice, with shortfall of 39 judges against sanctioned posts. The shortfall has virtually crippled the functioning of the court, with a number of cases before many of the judges crossing 100 per day. Five judges retired this year, but only one fresh appointment -- of justice HS Madaan -- could be made, that too earlier this month. The court, however, got four judges from other HCs this year. Seven judges are to retire in 2017.