Supreme Court Flags Need for Performance Evaluation of High Court Judges
Bench Seeks Broad Guidelines and Standardized Reporting to Address Delays and Maintain Public Trust
The Supreme Court has underscored the urgent necessity of instituting a performance evaluation mechanism for High Court judges. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh emphasized that while many judges work diligently and dispose of cases efficiently, others lag behind, resulting in a backlog of judgments and diminished public confidence in the judicial system.
The Court clarified that the goal was not to micromanage judges but to encourage transparency and consistent delivery through broad guidelines. Judges, the Bench remarked, should be aware of their responsibilities and the public’s legitimate expectations from the judiciary. The Court warned against the habitual granting of adjournments, describing this trend as damaging both to court credibility and to litigants’ faith in timely justice.
This commentary arose during the hearing of a plea by four life convicts—belonging to Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes—who alleged inordinate delay by the Jharkhand High Court in pronouncing judgments on their criminal appeals, some reserved for over two to three years. The Supreme Court’s intervention resulted in eventual rulings by the High Court, but the apex court took note of the larger problem of delays in reserved judgments across the country.
Amicus Curiae Fauzia Shakil presented data from various High Courts, revealing a lack of uniformity in how reserved and decided cases were reported. The Supreme Court consequently directed all High Courts to standardize formats for reporting, including tracking reservation, pronouncement, and uploading dates for each judgment. Furthermore, the Court reiterated its expectation—confirmed in Ratilal Jhaverbhai Parmar v. State of Gujarat—that reasons for judgments should be uploaded within five days of pronouncement, though this may be extended to 10 or 15 days under exceptional circumstances.
The Bench’s observations highlight a renewed push to increase accountability among High Court judges, reduce judicial delays, and bolster the legitimacy and efficiency of the Indian judiciary in the eyes of the public.