NEW DELHI: There are 239 proposals for appointments of high court judges , recommended by various high court collegiums, currently pending with the government and the Supreme Court collegium , law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday.

The delay in appointment of HC judges has increased vacancies in the 25 HCs in the country which have 40% of judges posts vacant - a record 421 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 1,079. Replying to a written question in Lok Sabha , the law minister said these 239 proposals are "in various stages of processing with the government and SC collegium as per the procedure prescribed in Memorandum of Procedure".

At present, no proposal of elevation of SC judge and appointment of chief justice of high court is pending with the government, Prasad said. The vacancies in high courts and subordinate courts have resulted in increase in pendency of cases which have also reached an all-time high of 3.5 crore in all courts.

