Rajesh Pandey
Prayagraj: In a bid to bolster judicial capacity, the Allahabad High Court will swear in two new judges—Advocates Amitabh Kumar Rai and Rajiv Lochan Shukla—on Monday, September 8, at 10:00 a.m., presided over by Chief Justice Arun Bhansali in his courtroom.
Their appointments follow an official notification from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice dated September 6, confirming earlier recommendations by the Supreme Court Collegium on March 25.
While Rajiv Lochan Shukla has long practised at the principal seat in Prayagraj, Amitabh Kumar Rai has represented litigants at the Lucknow Bench of the same High Court.
According to Registrar General Rajeev Bharti, all sitting judges of the High Court will be present, and the schedule for regular benches will start slightly later, at 10:45 a.m., in view of the ceremony.
Judicial Snapshot: Strength and Pendency
- Post-induction, the total number of judges—across the Prayagraj principal seat and the Lucknow Bench—will rise to 87, up from the current 85
- This remains far below the sanctioned strength of 160, meaning nearly half of the judge positions remain vacant
The Alarming Backlog of Cases
The judicial backlog at the Allahabad High Court is staggering:
- As of January 1, 2025, there are approximately 1.141 million (11.41 lakh) pending cases, the highest in any High Court in India
- According to earlier data, the Principal Bench in Prayagraj had 929,607 pending cases, while the Lucknow Bench added another 212,080, amounting to approximately 1.141 million cases overall (Bar
- A comprehensive breakdown as of January 23, 2024, also aligns with this number—1,074,789 pending cases—making it the most burdened High Court in the country
- Notably, tens of thousands of cases have been languishing for decades:
- Over 14,200 appeals have been pending for more than 30 years, representing 98% of such long-standing appeals across the top High Courts
- The sheer volume of cases has stretched judicial efficiency to the brink, with each judge managing between 15,000 to 20,000 cases.
Why Additional Appointments Matter
The appointment of Amitabh Kumar Rai and Rajiv Lochan Shukla is timely but insufficient:
- With only 87 judges in place, the court continues to operate at roughly 54% capacity.
- Unless more judges are appointed at pace, the backlog is projected to continue ballooning, delaying justice for countless individuals—including those in critical life-and-death or constitutional matters.
Legal experts—and even the Supreme Court during recent hearings—have strongly highlighted the urgency of filling vacancies on merit to uphold access to timely justice
Summary Table
| Aspect | Figures & Context |
|---|---|
| Sanctioned Strength | 160 judges (total, including Prayagraj and Lucknow Bench) |
| Current Strength (After Swearing-In) | 87 judges (with two to be sworn in) |
| Vacancies | ~73 seats still vacant |
| Pending Cases | Approx. 11.4 lakh (1.14 million) |
| Long-Pending Appeals | Over 14,200 appeals pending for 30+ years |
| Case Load per Judge | 15,000–20,000 cases each |
The induction of Advocates Rai and Shukla marks a positive, albeit modest, step in addressing the judicial crisis. However, without sustained efforts to fill vacancies and streamline case disposal, the promise of timely justice may remain elusive.
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