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Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said in Prayagraj – We are public servants, we work according to the constitution. -file photo
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has rejected the Supreme Court’s warning on Saturday. Rijiju said that it is being said in some media reports that the Supreme Court has given a warning. While here no one can warn anyone. We are public servants, we work according to the constitution. Rijiju was speaking at a program in Prayagraj, UP.
The Supreme Court on Friday expressed displeasure over the delay in the appointment of judges. The court warned the Center not to force us to take such a stand, which would cause trouble. On this, the Center had filed an affidavit saying that the recommendation sent for the appointment of 5 judges in the Supreme Court would be approved in the next five days. However, within 24 hours, the Center approved all the five recommendations on Saturday.
Full statement of Kiren Rijiju
Rijiju said, ‘I saw that it is being said in the media reports that’ the Supreme Court has given a warning (on the collegium). The people here are the owners of this country, we are just servants. Our guide is the Constitution. The country will run according to the constitution. No one can warn anyone. We see ourselves as servants of this great country, that in itself is a great thing. People have given us a chance to work. All of you are privileged people, have become judges-lawyers… they have become so by being educated. We are lucky to have got the responsibility to work for the country.
The names of the judges were recommended by the collegium.
The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended 5 names to the government on 13 December. These included Justice Pankaj Mithal Chief Justice Rajasthan HC, Justice Sanjay Karol Chief Justice Patna HC, Justice PV Sanjay Kumar Chief Justice Manipur HC, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah of Patna High Court and Justice Manoj Mishra of Allahabad HC.
SC currently working with 27 judges
During the hearing, Attorney General R Venkataramani told a bench of Justices SK Kaul and AS Oka that the warrant for appointment of 5 judges would be issued soon. The sanction strength of the judges in the Supreme Court is 34 including the CJI. Presently work is going on with 27 judges. This number will increase to 32 after the five judges take oath.
What is the Supreme Court Collegium?
The collegium on which this entire controversy is taking place is the system of appointment and transfer of judges in the High Court and the Supreme Court. The members of the collegium are the judges. They send suggestions of names for appointment of new judges to the Prime Minister and the President. After approval, judges are appointed.
The collegium system was implemented in the country in the year 1993. The Collegium consists of 5 members. CJI is the head in this. Apart from this, there are 4 most senior judges. Right now it has 6 judges.
Center wrote to CJI to include its representative
On January 16, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju wrote a letter to the CJI asking him to include his representative in the collegium. To respond to the Centre’s stand, the Collegium headed by the CJI decided that this time the entire matter should be made public.
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