Ranjan Gogoi
File image of CJI Ranjan Gogoi

Assam son of soil Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court for its effective functioning.

Also read: CJI Ranjan Gogoi writes to PM demanding removal of HC judge

Gogoi also requested Modi to increase the retirement age of high court judges to 65 years.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the CJI mentioned that over 58000 cases are pending in the Supreme Court and the number is becoming higher with each passing year.

Gogoi stated in his letter that due to shortage of judges in the apex court, the required number of constitution benches to decide important cases involving questions of law was not being formed.

He requested the Prime Minister to increase the number of judges so that timely justice can be provided to the public.

The CJI also requested the Prime Minister to make tenure appointments of retired top court judges and high court judges under Articles 128 and 224A of the Constitution respectively to clear backlog of cases pending for years.

Gogoi, in his letter, also gave a detailed account of the judge strength of the Supreme Court over the years.

In another letter to the Prime Minister, Gogoi requested that the retirement age of high court judges should be raised to 65 years as it will render the possibility of availability of a good number of experienced judges in the high courts.