Law Ministry said that despite approved positions for High Court judges, there is a 15% shortfall in the number of judges in higher courts leading to delays in hearings even in high profile cases that sometimes extend beyond 7 years. Population increases, rise in income levels, and accessibility of courts to the common man have essentially worsened the situation with the number of cases rising by 50% before Supreme Court and by 30% in High Courts. After the shameful exist of Justice Ramaswamy from the Supreme Court, the judiciary is very careful to ensure that corrupt judges or those sympathetic to political parties do not occupy positions of power. Furthermore, the increased tensions with the legislative accentuated by current Speaker Somnath Chatterjee have increased fears of a broader agenda by the Legislative to subvert the judicial process for political gain. What India needs is an independent judicial council, separated from the legislature and do not consume the time of serving judges, which can perform backend investigative and screening processes and recommend or reject names that can be considered by the normal review process.