Will take action if judges' posts not filled: Calcutta HC warns Modi govt

The Calcutta high court on Thursday warned the Narendra Modi government of "appropriate action" if appointments of judges were not made at the earliest.

The country's oldest high court has a sanctioned strength of 72 judges but at present there are only 34, and by the year-end seven are due to retire.

"It is made clear that continued silence of the Central government in the matter of appointment of judges in the near future despite the concerns expressed in this



order would certainly be viewed seriously as interference in the course of administration of justice and followed by appropriate action as authorised in law," said a bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Debi Prosad Dey.

Accusing the Centre of adopting a step- motherly attitude towards Calcutta high court, the bench said, "The time is now ripe for speaking our mind out or else this premier institution, which has stood tall despite several odds, would gradually lose its efficacy."