Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has pledged to enhance transparency in the appointment of judges and address the vacancies within the Bombay High Court. Speaking at an event organized by the Bombay Bar Association to honor his elevation, CJI Gavai emphasized the collegium's commitment to fairness, seniority, and merit in the selection process.

CJI Gavai, who assumed office as the 52nd CJI last month, acknowledged the perception that the Supreme Court operates solely at the discretion of the Chief Justice. He stressed the importance of collective and collaborative decision-making within the highest court, reinforcing that the Supreme Court is a court of all judges and not just the CJI's personal court. He noted that his predecessors, Justices UU Lalit and Sanjeev Khanna, also took steps to dispel this notion by ensuring many important decisions were outcomes of full court sittings, reflecting the opinion of all judges.

Addressing the Bombay Bar Association, CJI Gavai expressed his gratitude for their support, stating that his elevation to the Supreme Court and subsequent appointment as CJI would not have been possible without them. He recounted an instance where a collegium judge had reservations about his elevation due to concerns about potential unrest among senior lawyers in Mumbai. However, senior lawyers from the Bombay Bar Association clarified the situation, leading to his appointment.

CJI Gavai affirmed that the collegium has been trying to infuse more transparency in the appointment process since Justice Sanjeev Khanna's tenure as CJI. He highlighted the appointment of Justice Atul Chandurkar as a living example of this commitment to transparency, seniority and merit. He also mentioned Justice Dipankar Datta speaking about interference in the working of the collegium at a previous event in Nagpur.

Acknowledging the significant issue of pending cases, CJI Gavai attributed it partly to the unfilled vacancies in the judiciary. He assured that efforts are underway to fill these positions, particularly in the Bombay High Court, which currently has a vacancy of 29 judges, representing over 30% of its sanctioned strength. The CJI mentioned that the collegium had recently reviewed 54 candidates and recommended 36 appointments.

The Bombay High Court, recognized as one of the busiest High Courts in the nation, has a sanctioned strength of 94 judges. The court has recently announced recruitment for various positions, including stenographers.