Centre says have not asked to include government representatives in collegiums

NEW DELHI: The Center said they have not asked to include government representatives in the Supreme Court and High Court collegiums preparing the panel for appointing judges. The Center clarified that they directed to have a representative in the search committee for appointing judges and not in the collegiums. The Centre's explanation is related to the letter given by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The list of judges to be appointed should be decided first. The proposal of the Center is to have a representative of the government in the panel which prepares the list.

The center’s letter given strengthened their stand despite collegium's warning regarding the appointment of judges. Reports said the union minister has demanded the inclusion of central government representatives in the Supreme Court collegium and state representatives in the High Court collegium. Following this was the Centre's explanation.

Central government sources said no decision has been taken regarding the process of appointment of judges and directions on how to how to make it effective have been included. Meantime, it is heard that the letter was not discussed by the collegium. The union minister gave the letter after the final argument on a plea filed by the Bengaluru Advocates Association seeking contempt of court action against the Center for delaying the appointment of judges by ignoring the recommendations of the collegium.