Constitution Section 224 — Appointment of additional and acting Judges

Part VI — THE STATES — CHAPTER V.—THE HIGH COURTS IN THE STATES

Constitutional

Summary

If the President believes a High Court has a temporary increase in work or a backlog of cases, they can appoint additional judges for up to two years, after consulting the National Judicial Appointments Commission. If a High Court judge (other than the Chief Justice) is absent or unable to work, or is temporarily acting as Chief Justice, the President can appoint a qualified person to act as a judge until the permanent judge returns, again after consulting the Commission. No additional or acting judge can hold office after turning 62 years old.

Official Text

(1) If by reason of any temporary increase in the business of a High Court or by reason of arrears of work therein, it appears to the President that the number of the Judges of that Court should be for the time being increased, the President may, in consultation with the National Judicial Appointments Commission, appoint duly qualified persons to be additional Judges of the Court for such period not exceeding two years as he may specify.

(2) When any Judge of a High Court other than the Chief Justice is by reason of absence or for any other reason unable to perform the duties of his office or is appointed to act temporarily as Chief Justice, the President may, in consultation with the National Judicial Appointments Commission, appointa duly qualified person to act as a Judge of that Court until the permanent Judge has resumed his duties.

(3) No person appointed as an additional or acting Judge of a High Court shall hold office after attaining the age of sixty-two years.