Chief Justice of India TS Thakur couldn't have been more forthright in conveying his dismay to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the appalling delay in judicial appointments. But at the root of the problem is also the absence of convergence of opinion between the legislatures and executive on the one hand and the Supreme Court on the other.
While the apex court reaffirmed its supremacy by striking down the law enacted by Parliament last year on higher judicial appointments to thereby restore the collegium system, the revised memorandum of procedures for such appointments aimed at making the process more transparent is yet to be finalised.
The PM, taken back by the CJI's impassioned appeal for expediting the process, given its complexity, could not have done more than merely assure all. There is no justification for the inordinate delay in processing the names, once recommended by the collegiums, at the level of the law ministry. The whole process should be concluded within a month. The law minister and his secretary need to be more proactive. The Prime Minister's Office, too, should crack its whip, if required.
S K Choudhury, Bengaluru
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While the apex court reaffirmed its supremacy by striking down the law enacted by Parliament last year on higher judicial appointments to thereby restore the collegium system, the revised memorandum of procedures for such appointments aimed at making the process more transparent is yet to be finalised.
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The PM, taken back by the CJI's impassioned appeal for expediting the process, given its complexity, could not have done more than merely assure all. There is no justification for the inordinate delay in processing the names, once recommended by the collegiums, at the level of the law ministry. The whole process should be concluded within a month. The law minister and his secretary need to be more proactive. The Prime Minister's Office, too, should crack its whip, if required.
S K Choudhury, Bengaluru
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201 · E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number