The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association’s general house on Monday unanimously opposed any move to re-appoint retired High Court judges on an ad-hoc basis, asserting that such a proposal was “not acceptable” to it and stood “rejected outrightly”.
The association instead called for immediate efforts to appoint fresh judges from among members of the Bar to fill the vacancies.
The meeting was held to deliberate upon a requisition signed by 237 members objecting to the proposal for re-appointment of retired judges.
“The general house in its meeting has unanimously decided that any such proposed move to re-appoint retired High Court Judges on ad-hoc basis is not acceptable to the Bar Association and hence, rejected outrightly,” the proceedings recorded.
The Bar further resolved, “Efforts be made to appoint fresh Judges from amongst the hon’ble members of the Bar at the earliest to fil the vacancies.”
The resolution assumes significance amid the continuing debate within legal circles over the proposal to invoke constitutional provisions enabling appointment of retired High Court judges on an ad-hoc basis to tackle mounting pendency.
Article 224-A of the Constitution empowers the Chief Justice of a High Court to request a retired HC judge to act temporarily as a judge with the prior approval of the President.
Such appointments are made as an exceptional measure to address acute shortages of judges and ensure the effective administration of justice.
