Shortage of judges frightening: Anand Sharma

\ New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) Terming the shortage of judges in\higher courts as a \\"frightening situation\\", head of the\Parliamentary Committee on Law today said it may lead to a\situation where the access to justice is denied.\ His remarks came after the Supreme Court earlier in the\day rapped the Union government for delaying appointment of\judges to the 24 high courts.\ \\"The position is unacceptable. The situation is causing\concern…it is frightening,\\" senior Congress leader and panel\chairman Anand Sharma said here.\ He said the shortage could lead to a situation where\access to justice is denied.\ Sharma said the committee was concerned over the issue\of vacancies in higher judiciary and therefore the matter was\taken up as the first subject. \\"The government is answerable\to Parliament,\\" he said.\ The panel has so far held four meetings on the issue and\another one is slated for November 2.\ While the focus is on shortage of judges in the Supreme\Court and the 24 high courts, the situation in the subordinate\courts, considered the backbone of justice delivery system, is\even worse.\ Latest data show there is a shortage of 5,111 judicial\officers who run subordinate courts across the country.\ The 24 high courts face a shortage of nearly 450 judges.\ Nearly three crore cases are pending in courts across\India. PTI SPG NAB\TIR\