New Delhi: The government on Thursday said that it had suggested to the Supreme Court that the search-and-evaluation committee for the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and chief justices of high courts should have a representative nominated by the Central government, reported news agency PTI. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also stated that the Centre has not requested the Supreme Court to include a government nominee in the collegium for appointments to the higher judiciary in a written response to two separate questions in the Rajya Sabha.
In a communication that was sent to the supreme court on January 6, Rijiju stated that the government had also emphasised the necessity of completing the memorandum of procedure (MoP) in light of various judicial decisions.
The documents governing the elevation, appointment, and transfer of Supreme Court and high court judges are known as the MoP.
The minister stated that the committee for the appointment of high court judges should include representatives nominated by the central government and the state governments.
It will be the responsibility of the search-and-evaluation committees to compile a list of qualified candidates from which the respective collegiums will select their recommendations.
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Rijiju stated, “This, along with other measures suggested, will pave the way for a more transparent, accountable and expeditious mechanism for appointment of judges to the constitutional courts (the Supreme Court and the 25 high courts).”
Supreme Court Collegium on Sunday recommended Allahabad High Court Chief Justice, Justice Rajesh Bindal, and Gujarat High Court Chief Justice, Justice Aravind Kumar for elevation as Judges of the Supreme Court.
Currently, the Supreme Court of India has a sanctioned strength of thirty-four judges and is presently functioning with twenty seven, therefore with seven vacancies.
According to reports, the Collegium on December 13 last year had recommended five names for appointment as Judges of the Supreme Court. They are Justice Pankaj Mithal, Justice Sanjay Karol, Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Justice Manoj Misra. Their appointment is yet to be notified by the Government.