Supreme Court issues notice to Centre based on a plea for making appointments by CJI-appointed committee to NCMEI

SC issues notice to Centre based on a plea for making appointments by CJI-appointed committee to NCMEI

The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking appointment in National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) on the recommendation of a committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) till the National Tribunal Commission (Commission) according to the directions of the Court

The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao sought a response from the Centre on a plea filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. In the said plea it was sought that appointments to the Commission be made based on recommendations by a committee appointed by the CJI till the Commission is formed.

The plea stated, "To appoint members of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions in place of the outgoing members and all the future appointments/nominations to fill future vacancies in National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions on the recommendation of Committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India till continuation of the National Tribunals Commission."

It was pleaded that according to Section 3 of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutes Act, 2004, (Act) the Commission must consist of a Chairperson and three members. It was stated that as the Commission is formed under an Act of Parliament and it is not a government body, but it is a full-fledged part of the judicial system, and hence the appointments should be made on the recommendations of a committee constituted by the CJI.

The plea further reads, "There is a need to protect judicial independence by maintaining judicial dominance."