The Bombay High Court on Friday issued an urgent directive to the Maharashtra government, urging it to promptly address the staffing shortages that have been crippling court operations. In a hearing concerning a suo motu case on this issue, Justices A.S. Gadkari and Kamal Khata emphasized the need for immediate government action to resolve what they described as a severe impediment to the court’s daily functions.
During the proceedings, Justice Gadkari highlighted the practical impacts of the shortage, including significant delays in handling digital documents and filings. “Some of us are also not getting the scanned petitions… Out of 50 matters, perhaps only 10 are processed properly due to technical difficulties,” he explained.
The court pointed out that the solution requires more than just filling vacancies. It demands appointing staff who are technically adept to meet the evolving needs of the judiciary, especially in light of increasing commercial litigation and the impending construction of a new High Court building.
The issue first came to a head during a December 2024 contempt case hearing, when the court observed that the lack of sufficient staff was disrupting judicial work. This included problems with document management, inadequate storage, and a failure to adapt to digital systems effectively, which in turn affected the preparation and proceedings of cases.
Advocates P.M. Palshikar and Aditya Udeshi, representing the High Court Registry, informed the court that a detailed proposal on staffing needs, projecting for the next 15 years, was submitted to the state government. In response, Additional Government Pleader Abhay Patki assured the bench of the government’s cooperation and suggested organizing a meeting with the Principal Secretary of Law and Judiciary to expedite a resolution.
