“Time has come to set up judicial services”

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in the Lok sabha, said that time has come for setting up all-India judicial services as there are more than 5,000 positions of judicial officers in district and subordinate courts lying vacant.

Based on information provided by the high courts and respective state governments, the minister said that the sanctioned strength of the judicial officers in the district and subordinate courts is 22,644 as on September 30, 2018.

"The number of judicial officers in position and vacant posts is 17,509 and 5,135, respectively," he said during the Question Hour.

The Union Minister further said that the examinations can be conducted by the UPSC abd that discussions are going on the issue.

The selection and appointment of judges in subordinate courts is the responsibility of the high courts and state governments concerned.

The government has been pitching for creation of an all-India judicial services to appoint people in lower judiciary. In August 2018, the minister wrote to all Chief Justices of high court to monitor the status of vacancies regularly and ensure proper coordination with the state Public Service Commission to fill up vacant posts, as per a written reply.

The minister also said that time has come for establishing a National Judicial Commission.