SRINAGAR: Welcoming the appointment of Rajesh Sekhri as additional judge of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, NC MP Masoodi said it was the first time in its recent history, that the High Court has full strength of 17 Judges. He demanded that the vacant positions of the subordinate staff must be filled early.
High Court Srinagar
“This is no small achievement. The legal fraternity in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh would remember the times when only three Judges against a sanctioned strength of eight, were in place. This continued for a long and the lawyers and the litigant public had to face immense difficulties. Leaving the vacancies un-filled violates the right of access to justice- an integral part of the fundamental right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,” Masoodi said in a statement. “The credit for this achievement therefore must rightfully go to Shri Rijuju. He did not only ensure that the vacancies were filled up with due dispatch but also facilitated clearance of all the proposals received, without keeping even a single proposal pending. We must not underestimate how important it is for justice seekers to have High Court working at full strength.”
With the present strength, we can expect two or even more division benches at Srinagar and Jammu, Masoodi, himself a former judge, said. “This particularly will bring much-needed relief to appellants in judicial custody in Criminal Appeals. In any case, it is big news for justice seekers in 50 thousand cases awaiting adjudication in two wings of the High Court.”
He also sought the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister’s role in filling up 170 vacancies at different levels in District Judiciary and sanction of Additional District Judge Court at Awantipora and upgrading Munsiff Courts at Pampore and Qazigund, so that timely Justice is done in approximately 3 lakh cases pending in different Courts in Jammu and Kashmir.
