SC asks Centre to explain delay in appointment of judges recommended by collegium

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to submit a list of names reiterated by the collegium for judicial appointments and sought an explanation for the delay in processing it, Bar and Bench reported.

Under the collegium system, the five most senior judges of the Supreme Court, including the chief justice, decide on the appointments and transfers of judges to the top court and the High Courts. These recommendations must be approved by the Union government.

The bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and consisting Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was hearing two petitions including one by the Jharkhand government seeking contempt of court action against the Union government for delaying its approval on the collegium’s recommendation of appointing Justice MS Ramachandra Rao as the chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court.