Allahbad high court, which is the country’s biggest court in terms of judge-posts (160), leads the way in case-pendency. Out of the 43 lakh cases pending in India’s high courts, 10 lakh are in Allahbad alone. Madras with 4.6 lakh, Bombay with 3.6 lakh and Calcutta with 3.4 lakh follow Allahbad.

Of the 160 judge-posts in Allahbad HC, 75 lie vacant, while 28 out of the 85 sitting judges are only additional judges.

21 high courts across the country recommend names of judges to be appointed, and the Supreme Court collegium finally decides whether those names can be sent to the government for appointment.

The collegium headed by the recently retired chief justice of India SH Kapadia rejected seven of 15 names recommended this year for Allahbad HC, before his retirement on 28 September. [HT]