Justice Kaul warned that he was holding back since the Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani had sought some time, but on the next date of hearing, he would not be holding back.
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ON Tuesday, the Supreme Court expressed its displeasure at the Union government’s dilly-dallying over the appointment and transfer of judges of high courts.
A Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia adjourned a contempt petition against the Union government by a week at the request of the Attorney General for India, R. Venkataramani.
Before adjourning the matter, Justice Kaul expressed his anguish at the Union government sitting over 70 recommendations from the High Courts’ Collegium for the last one year. These recommendations are required to be sent to the Supreme Court Collegium.
Justice Kaul also added that the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations to transfer 26 high court judges are still pending which includes the appointment of a chief justice at a sensitive high court.
Justice Kaul was possibly referring to the delay in the appointment of Justice Siddharth Mridul from the Delhi High Court to the Manipur High Court as its chief justice.
Justice Kaul warned that he was holding back since the Attorney General had sought some time, but on the next date of hearing, he would not be holding back.
During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan raised the issue of potential candidates for judgeship even withdrawing their names from candidature due to prolonged delays in appointments.
On February 3 this year, a Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice S.K. Kaul, who is part of the collegium, had warned the Union government of “unpalatable consequences” if the collegium’s recommendations to transfer high court judges were not given effect in the next ten days.
The said unpalatable consequences have not been inflicted.
