In a recent court proceeding, the Central Government informed the Supreme Court that the delay in the appointment of chief justices to various high courts stems from “sensitive material” currently held by the government. This revelation came during a hearing concerning the implementation of the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium for judicial appointments.
Attorney General R Venkatramani addressed a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, explaining the delicate nature of the inputs received from the Union government. Venkatramani expressed concerns about the potential consequences of making this information public, noting that it could harm both the institution and the judges involved.
In an effort to maintain confidentiality while still providing necessary insights to the judiciary, the Attorney General proposed, “I would like to place the inputs and my suggestions in a sealed cover for perusal by the judges.” The court agreed to this measure and has scheduled the next hearing for September 20.
The proceedings stem from a plea by advocate Harsh Vibhore Singhal, which urges the establishment of a definitive timeline for the Centre to notify judicial appointments as recommended by the collegium. Singhal’s plea criticizes the current system, arguing that the lack of a specified timeframe allows the government to delay appointments arbitrarily. This, according to the plea, undermines judicial independence and threatens the constitutional framework and democratic governance of the nation.
Moreover, the plea advocates for a mechanism to automatically confirm the appointments of judges if the Centre fails to object or notify within the proposed time limit, thereby ensuring a smoother and more efficient judicial appointment process.
