<h1 class="ql-align-center"><strong style="color: rgb(230, 0, 0);">Ad- Hoc Judges&nbsp;</strong></h1><p class="ql-align-center"><br></p><p><strong>CONTEXT</strong>:&nbsp;The Supreme Court suggested a less cumbersome and even “out­ of­ the box” thinking, includ­ing roping in senior lawyers to act as <strong>ad hoc judges in High Courts</strong>, to meet the rising tide of pendency.</p><p><br></p><h3><strong>More in News:</strong></h3><ul><li class="ql-align-justify">The court was hearing a case ﬁled by <strong>NGO Lok Pra­hari</strong> seeking invocation of <strong>Article 224A </strong>for appointment of ad hoc judges in High Courts.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Earlier, the court had identiﬁed ﬁve situations in which the judici­ary could seek the aid of ad hoc judges, including:</li><li class="ql-align-justify">when vacancies were over<strong> 20% of sanctioned strength </strong></li><li class="ql-align-justify">cases had been pending for over ﬁve years.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">If over 10% of the high court’s cases are pending for more than five years;</li><li class="ql-align-justify">If the rate of disposal of cases is lower than the rate of institution of cases (‘case clearance rate’);</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Even if the number of old cases is low, it is likely there will be a situation of mounting arrears due to a consistently low case clearance rate for a year or more.</li></ul><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><h3 class="ql-align-justify"><strong>Ad hoc judge</strong></h3><ul><li class="ql-align-justify"><strong>Article 127 </strong></li><li class="ql-align-justify">When there is a lack of <strong>quorum</strong>, the CJI can appoint a judge of high court to the SC bench</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Such a step can be taken only with the prior permission of the <strong>President and consultation with the CJ</strong> of the concerned high court</li><li class="ql-align-justify">While performing this duty, the newly appointed judge receives the salary, powers and privileges of a judge of the SC</li></ul><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><h3 class="ql-align-justify"><strong>Retired judges</strong></h3><ul><li class="ql-align-justify">CJI can request a <strong>retired judge of the SC or retired judge of the HC </strong>to act as a judge of the SC for a temporary period</li><li class="ql-align-justify">He can take this step after getting consent from the President of India and also of the person to be so appointed</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The appointed person in this case will receive such salary and allowances as determined by the President of India</li></ul><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><h3 class="ql-align-justify"><strong>Ad hoc judges in HC </strong></h3><ul><li class="ql-align-justify"><strong>Article 224A of Indian Constitution </strong>deals with the appointment of ad hoc judges in High Courts.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The <strong>Chief Justice of India</strong> may at any time, with the prior approval of the President of India, request a person who has been in the office of Judge of that court or any other <strong>High Court to act as Judge of the High Court of that State.</strong></li><li class="ql-align-justify"><strong>The Chief Minister</strong> will forward his recommendation to the Union Minister of Law and Justice after consultation with the Governor.</li></ul><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><h1 class="ql-align-center">PRELIMS NOTES:<a href="https://www.sunyaias.com/subscription-details/prelims-2023-sunya-notes-current-affairs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204);">CLICK HERE</a></h1>