Contempt plea in Supreme Court on proposed appointments

Contempt plea in Supreme Court on proposed appointments

Centre sitting over 11 names reiterated by Collegium as High Court judges

The Supreme Court Collegium has filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court registering protest that the Central government is sitting over its decision on 11 names proposed for appointment as High Court Judges.

The Advocates Association, Bengaluru, contended that after recommendations have been made by the Collegium, the unreasonable delay in the matter of appointments is unfavourable to the persons concerned.

"It has an adverse impact on the Rule of Law, which has been held to be a part of the basic structure of the Constitution," the Association maintained.

The Association challenged that the Centre's conduct was in violation of the mandate laid down in the 2019 judgment of M/s PLR Projects Pvt. Ltd. vs Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. & Ors.

The contempt plea said that as per the judgment, once the Supreme Court Collegium (headed by the Chief Justice of India) chooses a name for appointment as a judge, the appointment should happen within 3 to 4 weeks.

The advocates selected by the Collegium are: Jaytosh Majumdar, Amitesh Banerjee, Raja Basu Chowdhury, Lapita Banerji, Moksha Kazmi, Rahul Bharti, Nagendra Ramachandra Naik, Aditya Sondhi and Sakya Sen. The judicial officers are: J Umesh Chandra Sharma and Syed Waiz Mian.