New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS): Chief Justice of Indian Tirath Singh Thakur on Sunday said appointment of 400 judges to fill vacancies in the higher judiciary was a mammoth exercise and not an easy task to perform.

He also said he would embark on this exercise only after the five-judge constitution bench spells out a transparent procedure of appointing judges.

Pointing out that there were 400 vacancies to fill in high courts, Chief Justice Thakur, by way of illustration, noted that there were 100 vacancies in Allahabad High Court and asked: "Do you think it is easy to find 100 judges from the Allahabad High Court bar?"

Even if you "lower the bar" (criteria for the selection of judges), yet merit and suitability can't be compromised, he observed.

However, the appointment of judges to higher judiciary through collegium route as has been decided by the apex court constitution bench on October 16 last, would take some time as Chief Justice Thakur said: "I will be comfortable if I know how I am expected to work. It will be safer and prudent."