On Friday, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to provide details regarding the names and numbers of judicial appointments reiterated by the apex court Collegium, along with reasons for their delay and the level at which they are currently pending.
A bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to establish a fixed time limit for the Centre to act on the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium for judicial appointments.
The bench, which included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized that the Collegium is not a search committee whose recommendations can be indefinitely stalled. Addressing Attorney General (AG) R. Venkataramani, who was representing the Centre, the bench asked for a list of the reiterated names and the reasons behind the delays.
“If you can please provide a list of the reiterated names and explain why they are pending, and at what level they are held up,” Chief Justice Chandrachud urged. The bench also noted that some judicial appointments were already in the pipeline and expected soon. The hearing was postponed following a request by the AG.
The PIL, filed by advocate Harsh Vibhore Singhal, seeks a directive to prevent arbitrary delays in notifying judicial appointments and argues that the absence of a fixed time frame threatens judicial independence and undermines the constitutional order.
During the hearing, lawyer Prashant Bhushan referenced the case of senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal, whose appointment as a high court judge remains pending despite the Collegium reiterating his name.
