Additional Judges

Additional Judges

Subject : Polity

Section: judiciary

Concept :

• The Supreme Court collegium has recommended the names of six additional judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for appointment as permanent judges.
• The additional judges are Justices Vikas Bahl, Vikas Suri, Sandeep Moudgil, Vinod Sharma (Bhardwaj), Pankaj Jain and Jasjit Singh Bedi.
• The collegium, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, said that since the current two-year term of one of the additional judges is due to expire on May 24, the recommendation may be processed expeditiously by the Centre.

Constitutional Provisions on Additional Judges:

• Additional Judges can be appointed by the President under clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution.
• The State Government should first obtain the sanction of the Central Government for the creation of such additional posts.
• After the post is sanctioned the procedure to be followed for making the appointment is same as for the appointment of a permanent Judge.
• However, a medical certificate will not be necessary from the person being appointed as an Additional Judge.
• When an Additional Judge is being considered for confirmation as an Additional Judge for a fresh term, the relevant documents must be sent by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned along with such recommendation.
• However, the Chief Justice of the High Court should not make a recommendation for appointment of an Additional Judge when a vacancy of a permanent Judge is available in that High Court.

Conditions for Appointment :

• If there is any temporary increase in the business of the High Court or by reason of arrears of work, and the
• If President feels that the number of the Judges of that Court should be for the time being increased, then he may appoint duly qualified persons to be additional Judges of the Court.
• The period of such service must not exceed two years.
• No additional Judge of a High Court shall hold office after attaining the age of sixty-two years.