The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s idea to encourage retired judges to decide pending cases has been widely appreciated at the National Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Ministers of various states recently held in Delhi.

Majority of high courts are strongly opposed to the introduction of merit in appointment of judges, and want the present selection procedure by a committee of senior most judges to continue.

The Law Commission headed by former Supreme Court judge A R Lakshmanan has, in a fresh report, reiterated its earlier recommendation for a change in the system of appointment of judges of the higher judiciary.

Expressing serious concern over the huge number of pending court cases, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday called upon the judiciary and the executive to work together to eliminate the “scourge.

Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan said that the judiciary was not against declaration of judges' assets and that it was ready to "implicitly" obey Parliament if it passes a law in this regard.