Supreme Court Slams Modi Govt for Stalling Judicial Appointments

The apex court said that the courts are “on the verge of collapsing”.

The Supreme Court in strong words questioned the Centre over its decision to ignore the recommendations of the collegium. (Photo: Reuters)

On a day the Supreme Court expressed anguish over the Centre’s failure to implement the collegium’s decisions on transfer and appointment of judges, the Rajya Sabha was informed that 478 vacancies are yet to be filled up in 24 high courts in India where nearly 39 lakh cases remain pending.

The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on the Centre for non-compliance of collegium’s decision for transfer and appointment of judges.

In strong words, the apex court questioned the Centre over its decision to stall the recommendations of the collegium, accusing the Centre of trying to bring the process of judicial appointments to a halt in the country as even transfers and appointments of chief justices of high courts have not taken place.

The court further asked Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi to explain on whose authority the appointments of 75 judges across various courts have been stuck after being approved by the collegium almost eight months ago.

The collegium has cleared 75 names of high court judges for transfer or appointment but they have not been approved. I don’t know why, where these files are stuck...Courts on verge of collapsing...High Courts functioning at just 44 percent...Accountability must be fixed for delay in appointments. The vacancy in high courts has risen to 43 per cent. The whole system is collapsing

Supreme Court to the Government

However, the Attorney General of India, responding on the government’s behalf assured that the matter would be taken to the highest level. The government has been given four weeks time to respond to the issue by the Supreme Court.

Attorney general Mukul Rohtagi pleaded that no notice be issued for the time being on the PIL filed by 1971 war veteran Lieutenant Colonel Anil Kabotra on the issue.

I will take it up at the highest level and will come back to the court.

Referring to the huge backlog of cases and vacancies in the judiciary, the Army veteran had sought a direction to the authorities in this regard.

Also Read: Govt Can’t Defy SC While Proposing Steps Against Errant Judges

Supreme Court Questions Government Conduct Over Road Accidents

Adding to the centre’s misery, the Supreme Court rapped the government’s knuckles for a second time in a day when it fined the government Rs 25,000 over its failure to file a response to a case on highway accidents.

Speaking on the matter, Chief Justice India, TS Thakur asked:

Government is the biggest litigant but it blames courts for not doing their work...You have not filed counter affidavits for more than a year, is this a Panchayat going on here?

(With agency inputs)