High Courts

Story hook

It is 3 February 2023 at the Supreme Court of India. CJI D.Y. Chandrachud is announcing the SC collegium's recommendation: 8 new judges to be appointed to the Bombay High Court. Yet the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) deadlock between collegium and the government means many recommendations have been pending for months or years. By 2024, High Courts across India have 30%+ judicial vacancies — ~330+ posts vacant out of ~1,108 sanctioned strength.

The High Court is the highest judicial body in each state. Articles 214-231. 25 High Courts in India serve 28 states + 8 UTs (some HCs cover multiple states/UTs).

Below the High Courts lies the subordinate judiciary — District Courts + Sessions Courts + magistracy + revenue courts + specialised tribunals. ~24 crore civil + criminal cases pending across this system as of 2024.

For UPSC, High Courts + Subordinate Judiciary is a regularly-tested Polity topic.

Why this matters for UPSC

For UPSC:

• Prelims: HCs Articles 214-231; 25 HCs + their jurisdictions; composition + appointment; subordinate judiciary structure; major tribunals (CAT, AFT, NCLT, NGT).
• Mains GS-II: Judicial reform, MoP deadlock, NJAC verdict's impact, All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) debate.

This file covers High Court structure + jurisdiction + appointment

• subordinate judiciary + tribunals.