Judge Population Ratio in India

The Law Commission in its 120th Report recommended that the strength of judges per one million population may be increased from 10.5 to 50 judges per million population. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law & Justice, said that the judge strength of the High Courts is reviewed every three years. The data received from the High Courts for the triennial review of the judge strength of the High Courts are analyzed in accordance with the guidelines fixed for the increase of the strength which is based on number of cases filed and disposed.

Shri Khurshid further informed the House that with regard to subordinate judiciary, the Supreme Court, in its judgment of 21st March, 2002, in All India Judges’ Association & Ors Vs. Union of India & Ors, directed the States that an increase in the Judge strength from the existing 10.5 or 13 per 10 lakh people to 50 judges per 10 lakh people should be effected and implemented within a period of five years. The Central Government filed a modification petition in the Supreme Court praying that the increase in judge strength in the Union Territories for which Central Government is administratively responsible be allowed based on workload and pendency of cases.