The appointment of 25 additional judges for the high courts of Allahabad and Calcutta was notified on September 19. Additional judges usually have a term of two years and are elevated as permanent judges based on their performance. The appointment of 19 advocates as judges of Allahabad HC takes place a year after the Supreme Court collegium had first recommended their names. Interestingly, the government had sent back the list to the collegium twice, seeking clarifications and reconsideration. Every time, the SC reiterated the names of the 19 advocates. As on September 1, the Allahabad HC, with an approved strength of 160 judges, was functioning with 91 -a shortage of 69. The Calcutta HC has an approved strength of 72 judges, but has been working with 31-a shortage of 41. Further, over 61 recommendations by 13 HCs on appointment of new judges and elevation of additional judges are awaiting final nod by the SC collegium. These recommendations include 36 names sent by eight HCs for appointment as judges and 25 names sent by five HCs for elevation of additional judges as permanent judges.