SC Collegium stands by 43 names rejected by govt.

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 19, 2016: The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur, refused to accept the government’s rejection of 43 names it handpicked for judicial appointments in various High Courts.

The battle lines were drawn when the Supreme Court informed the government on Friday that it had reiterated every one of the 43 names that was sent back by the Centre to the Collegium for re-consideration. The Collegium had met on November 15.

“We [the Collegium] met. We have reiterated all the 43 names sent back to us,” Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur informed Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi on Friday.

The government is now on a sticky wicket as the new Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) is yet to be finalised. The prevalent procedure is that once the Collegium has reiterated its recommendations, as in this case, the government is bound to clear the names for appointment as judges.

The government had returned the 43, out of a total 77 names, recommended by the Collegium. The appointments of the remaining 34 names have already been completed by the government.