Federal administration endorses the selection of 5 legal professionals as judges for the Allahabad High Court
As of early August 2025, the Allahabad High Court is addressing its urgent judicial vacancies by appointing five new judges, partially easing the vacancy crisis. The Court currently faces a significant shortfall, operating with only about 80 judges against a sanctioned strength of 160, meaning roughly half of the positions remain unfilled[1][4].
The five judicial officers appointed recently are Pramod Kumar Srivastava-II, Santosh Rai, Zafeer Ahmad, Abdul Shahid, and Tej Pratap Tiwari. Three of these appointments were recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium in July 2025, while the other two were part of earlier recommendations from April 2025[1][2].
These judges were officially appointed by the President of India and took oath in early August 2025, increasing the working strength of the Allahabad High Court bench from 78 to 83 judges[3][5].
Despite this progress, the Allahabad High Court still has about 75 vacancies remaining. The backlog and delays in judicial proceedings remain a concern due to the court functioning at roughly half its sanctioned capacity[1][4].
The appointment of Tej Pratap Tiwari, if confirmed, will help in addressing the vacancies in the court. His potential appointment is a response to the Collegium's recommendations made in April 2025[2]. However, as of this writing, the Central government has not yet released an official notification regarding Tej Pratap Tiwari's appointment[6].
The urgency of the situation is highlighted by the pending plea seeking directions for the filling of judicial vacancies. The Allahabad High Court faces a significant shortage of judges, with only 80 out of 160 positions filled[1].
In summary:
- Vacancies: About 80 of 160 sanctioned judge posts were vacant till July 2025.
- Appointments Made: 5 judges appointed (4 appointed in August 2025, recommended in April and July 2025).
- Current Strength: Increased from 78 to 83 judges after appointments.
- Urgency: The court continues to face backlog challenges, reflecting the critical need to fill more vacancies[1][4].
This is the latest status and progress on filling urgent judicial vacancies in the Allahabad High Court as of August 2025. The Central government's decision on Tej Pratap Tiwari's appointment will impact the judicial strength of the Allahabad High Court.
- The ongoing vacancy crisis in the Allahabad High Court, a matter of general news, is not fully resolved as the court still has approximately 75 judicial positions unfilled, necessitating the need for policy-and-legislation to expedite the appointment process.
- The strategic appointment of Tej Pratap Tiwari, in response to the Collegium's recommendations made in April 2025, would significantly influence the politics surrounding the Allahabad High Court, potentially filling a remaining vacancy and enhancing the court's capacity to handle its caseload effectively.
