355 Judge Posts Vacant Across High Courts; 867 Judges Serving Against Sanctioned Strength of 1,222: Arjun Ram Meghwal
Appointments to High Courts made under the Constitution and Collegium system; Punjab & Haryana High Court has 30 vacancies
The Voice of Chandigarh News
A total of 355 judges’ posts are lying vacant across High Courts in India as of July 1, 2026, against a sanctioned strength of 1,222 judges, with 867 judges currently in position. The information was provided by Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The Minister stated that appointments of High Court judges are made under Articles 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India and in accordance with the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) framed in 1998. The MoP was prepared in compliance with the Supreme Court’s Second Judges Case (October 6, 1993) and its advisory opinion in the Third Judges Case (October 28, 1998).
He explained that filling vacancies in the higher judiciary is a continuous, coordinated and collaborative process between the judiciary and the executive. Under the MoP, proposals for appointments to the Supreme Court are initiated by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), while proposals for appointments to High Courts are initiated by the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court in consultation with the two senior-most judges of that High Court.
As per the MoP, High Courts are required to send their recommendations at least six months before a vacancy arises. However, this timeline is rarely adhered to. The recommendations are then processed after obtaining the views of the respective State Governments and considering other reports available with the Government. Subsequently, the proposals are examined by the Supreme Court Collegium, whose recommendation is mandatory for appointment as a High Court judge.
Allahabad High Court Has the Highest Number of Vacancies
According to the data shared by the Government, the Allahabad High Court has the highest number of vacancies, with 52 posts lying vacant. It is followed by the Calcutta High Court (31 vacancies), Punjab & Haryana High Court (30), Madras High Court (24) and Bombay High Court (19).
Punjab & Haryana High Court
The Punjab & Haryana High Court has a sanctioned strength of 85 judges, of which 55 are currently serving, leaving 30 vacancies.
Nationwide Position as on July 1, 2026
- Sanctioned strength: 1,222 judges
- Judges in position: 867
- Vacancies: 355
The Union Minister reiterated that only those individuals whose names are recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium are appointed as High Court judges. He added that the process of filling vacancies is an ongoing exercise involving consultation and approval at both the State and Central levels to ensure timely appointments.
Sanctioned Strength, Working Judges and Vacancies in High Courts (As on July 1, 2026)
| S. No. | High Court | Sanctioned Strength | Judges in Position | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allahabad | 160 | 108 | 52 |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh | 37 | 29 | 8 |
| 3 | Bombay | 94 | 75 | 19 |
| 4 | Calcutta | 72 | 41 | 31 |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | 22 | 13 | 9 |
| 6 | Delhi | 60 | 44 | 16 |
| 7 | Gauhati | 30 | 24 | 6 |
| 8 | Gujarat | 52 | 34 | 18 |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | 17 | 12 | 5 |
| 10 | Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh | 25 | 12 | 13 |
| 11 | Jharkhand | 25 | 13 | 12 |
| 12 | Karnataka | 62 | 48 | 14 |
| 13 | Kerala | 47 | 36 | 11 |
| 14 | Madhya Pradesh | 53 | 37 | 16 |
| 15 | Madras | 75 | 51 | 24 |
| 16 | Manipur | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 17 | Meghalaya | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 18 | Orissa | 33 | 18 | 15 |
| 19 | Patna | 53 | 44 | 9 |
| 20 | Punjab & Haryana | 85 | 55 | 30 |
| 21 | Rajasthan | 50 | 39 | 11 |
| 22 | Sikkim | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 23 | Telangana | 42 | 27 | 15 |
| 24 | Tripura | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 25 | Uttarakhand | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| Total | All High Courts | 1,222 | 867 | 355 |
