Vinod Kumar calls for filling vacant judgeships in Telangana High Court

Former BRS MP emphasises the need to fill vacant judicial positions to combat case backlogs and enhance access to justice for marginalised communities

Hyderabad: Former BRS MP B Vinod Kumar has urged the Chief Justice of Telangana to take immediate steps and fill all vacant judges’ posts. He stated that the justice could be served effectively only when the High Court operates at full capacity.

Speaking at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday, Vinod Kumar stated that while the sanctioned strength of Telangana High Court judges stood at 42, the number of judges never exceeded 23. He pointed out the absence of judges from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, stressing that their inclusion was crucial for delivering justice to Dalit and tribal communities.

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“Social justice must be reflected in the legal system as well,” he asserted, noting that four judges currently serving in the Telangana High Court hailed from other States and filling vacant posts would provide fresh opportunities for Telangana natives.

Stating that the Telangana High Court was established on December 31, 2019, Vinod Kumar credited the efforts of the then BRS government and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for increasing the sanctioned number of judges to 42.

However, he expressed concern over the growing backlog of cases, which he attributed to the lack of adequate judicial appointments.

In the wake of the Congress government’s decision to expand Hyderabad Metro Rail services till Shamirpet, the former MP suggested for a double-deck flyover from JBS to Shamirpet, as proposed by the previous BRS government, to end traffic congestion for people travelling towards north Telangana districts.

He argued that merely extending the metro rail to Shamirpet would not address the traffic woes on the route as it requires road-widening.