A special bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant highlighted the pressing need to address the mounting pendency of criminal cases. The bench suggested that ad hoc judges could sit on division benches alongside permanent judges to expedite the adjudication process. ([Legal News India](https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-proposes-to-appoint-ad-hoc-judges-in-high-courts-with-high-criminal-appeals-pendency-281579?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The court also indicated its intention to modify its April 2021 guidelines, which stipulated that ad hoc judges could be appointed only when vacancies exceeded 20% of the sanctioned strength of a High Court. This relaxation aims to facilitate the prompt appointment of ad hoc judges, ensuring more efficient case resolution. ([Bar & Bench](https://www.barandbench.com/amp/story/news/litigation/supreme-court-relax-ad-hoc-judge-appointments-criminal-appeal-backlog-high-courts?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Data presented during the proceedings underscored the severity of the backlog. The Allahabad High Court, for instance, has approximately 63,000 pending criminal appeals. Other high courts facing significant backlogs include Patna and Karnataka, each with around 20,000 pending cases, and Punjab and Haryana with approximately 21,000. ([Bar & Bench](https://www.barandbench.com/amp/story/news/litigation/supreme-court-relax-ad-hoc-judge-appointments-criminal-appeal-backlog-high-courts?utm_source=chatgpt.com))