Mumbai: The Bombay High Court, one of the oldest high courts in the country, has been functioning with barely 70% of its sanctioned strength of judges. With the workload of litigation increasing, there has been a long-standing demand to increase the sanctioned number of judges.
However, over the years, there has rarely been a time when the court has functioned at full strength. This, in turn, increases the workload on the existing judges.
This plight was highlighted by Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta—who served as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court before being elevated to the apex court—on Saturday during the felicitation ceremony of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, organised by the high court.
Justice Datta urged the high court judges to maintain a work-life balance, narrating how judges here spend 15–16 hours a day working, leaving little time for their families.
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The High Court has a sanctioned strength of 94 judges. As of now, it is functioning with 65 judges, including two—advocates Gautam Ashwin Ankhad and Mahendra Madhavrao Nerlikar—who were appointed as additional judges on Friday.
Only once, between 2019 and 2020, did the court reach 75 judges. “That was the only time—forget about reaching 90 (judges),” said Justice Datta, adding that when he was Chief Justice of the High Court in 2021, there were 70 judges. “When I joined, it was 70, and it went down to 50 during Covid. Do you think 60–70 judges can do the work of 94 judges?” he asked.
He narrated the incident of a high court judge who, in his judgment, had clarified that the delay in uploading the judgment copy was due to workload, as he often stayed in office till late at night. “You don’t need to clarify. Everyone understands,” Justice Datta added.
Urging judges to take care of their health and spend time with family, Justice Datta said: “You are doing a great disservice to your family and yourself. If anything happens to you, there will be sympathisers for one month—and then there will be no one.”
Justice Datta also said that the Chief Justice has sought views on 15–16 names for potential appointment as judges. “The CJ has sent 15–16 names and sought my views (for appointment as judges). Even if 12–13 names are approved, the strength will increase. We thought even 94 is too little for the Bombay High Court,” he said.
