50% Delhi High Court Vacancies Alarms, Only 36 Judges in Office

New Delhi, April 19, 2025: Delhi High Court is at the moment seriously short-staffed, with 40% of the judge posts vacant. After three transfers and two retirements in March and April 2025, the court’s working strength fell to 36 judges, against the sanctioned number of 60.

Further to the worry, Justices Dharmesh Sharma and Shalinder Kaur will retire later this year, which could further lower the number of judges to 34 if no new appointments are made.

Recent judicial transfers have been under a lot of spotlight. Justice Yashwant Varma was recalled to the Allahabad High Court after unaccounted cash found at his house. Justice DK Sharma was transferred to the Calcutta High Court in the face of opposition from the local Bar. Justice Chandra Dhari Singh was also recalled to Allahabad, months after his transfer was suggested.

Justices Rekha Palli and Anoop Kumar Mendiratta had retired earlier, reducing the bench further.

Though as crucial as the capital’s High Court, Delhi ranks poorly with others. It is only the fourth-highest vacancy rate holding among India’s 25 High Courts. Allahabad High Court holds the record for the worst vacancy rate, followed by Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, then Orissa, and finally Delhi, which stands equal with Jharkhand and Manipur.

Since 2014, only 51 judges have been appointed to the Delhi High Court. There were no appointments in 2015, 2020, and 2024. The maximum number of appointments (17) was made in 2022.

Former Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Justice Vipin Sanghi, said that excess vacancies put a strain on the judicial system. “The load on the residual judges increases, impacting the tempo and quality of justice. Transfers also inconvenience case rosters and slow up decisions in part-heard matters,” he said.