The High Court Bar Association of Manipur has urged the Central government to address the shortage of judges in the state’s highest court.
On Tuesday, the Association called for the immediate appointment of two judges to fill existing vacancies and recommended that the sanctioned strength be raised from five to seven, including the Chief Justice.
Speaking to reporters from the Association’s office within the High Court complex, President and Senior Advocate Naorem Kumarjit Singh said the present strength is inadequate to manage the court’s workload. According to him, more than 6,000 cases are now pending, with the situation compounded by the state’s challenging law and order environment.
Singh recalled that the Manipur High Court was established as an independent court in 2013 with a sanctioned strength of five judges. However, he noted that it has rarely functioned at its full capacity.
Last month, a delegation from the Association met Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, as well as senior judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice of India. The team submitted representations detailing the difficulties litigants face because of judicial shortages.
“The Union Minister and the Chief Justice have assured us that the matter will receive due consideration,” Singh said. He also appealed to litigants to continue placing their faith in the judiciary and its ability to deliver justice without undue delay.
