Supreme Court fixes November 13 deadline for suggestions on collegium

The order came two days after the Centre conceded that the now-quashed National Judicial Appointments Commission was "history" and appeared reconciled to the revival of the collegium system of judges choosing judges that the NJAC had sought to replace.

The central government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that appointment of judges to the apex court and the high courts should be through consultative and participatory exercise and the entire procedure of appointment should be known to the public. We have not said anything to the collegium and we will not be saying anything.

Court had earlier on November 3, asked the petitioners and the respondents in the batch matter which successfully challenged the constitutionality of the NJAC, to submit their suggestions to the bench.

The Court has also allowed Bar Council of India (BCI) to gather inputs from Bar Associations across India after BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra argued that different Bar Associations might have different opinions and the BCI is obligated to the bring those views to the fore.

The court has said it would address four specific issues pertaining to transparency, eligibility criteria for appointments, setting up a secretariat of Collegium and a mechanism for complaint redressal.

An apex court constitution bench headed by Justice AS Khehar said that all the suggestions should reach the ministry of law and justice before 5 pm on November 13, which in turn will forward them to senior counsel Arvind Dattar and Additional Solicitor General Pinki Anand to collate them.

"We have received suggestions from 60 representatives".

If the apex court agrees to a unique suggestion, 45-plus aged advocates and judges will be soon seen writing exams and attending interviews before their elevation to high court and Supreme Court. Quota reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and other backward classes in the collegium was another suggestion.

Considering the large number of stakeholders who wished to place their suggestions within the limited time, the bench made a decision to accept the suggestion of Mukul Rohtagi, Attorney General of India (AG) and Pinky Anand, to put up the compilation report on the law ministry website. In the garb of suggesting reforms, most advocates -M Nedumpara, R P Luthra and Virag Gupta being the most vociferous -appeared to have a grievance that the collegium system had promoted nepotism and had favoured family members of judges and senior advocates by selecting them as high court judges.


Popular
  • Blizzard job posting hints at re-release of classics like StarCraft, Warcraft

    SC Johnson plans major renovations to Racine headquarters

    People reposed trust in govt policies in LB polls, says PM

  • Around sports: Martinsville victory puts Gordon in Sprint Cup final

    Around sports: Martinsville victory puts Gordon in Sprint Cup final

    Poll Finds Americans, Especially Millennials, Moving Away From Religion

    Clinton wants to make gun control a 'voting issue'

  • Sam Claflin & Wife Laura Haddock Reveal Pregnancy at 'Mockingjay - Part 2

    NC State's Dayes to Miss Remainder of Season with Foot Injury

    HTC's 'Be Brilliant' ad for One A9 is very 1984-esque

  • Lack of sleep may increase diabetes risk

    Opening of California's Dungeness Crab Season Delayed by Toxic Domoic Acid Levels

    Need for Speed DLC to be Substantial & Free


CONNECT