NEW DELHI: Former Supreme Court judges have criticized the central government for being stuck on collegium recommendations for the appointment of judges and judges accepting high government posts after retirement. The criticism was made at a function organized by the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms organization.
Retired Justice Madan B Lokur said that the central government is bound by the collegium recommendation for the appointment of Supreme Court and High Court judges and if the appointment is delayed, the central government should be held responsible. Even if three names are sent at once, one file is withheld and two are appointed. He also clarified that this will result in the loss of seniority of the judges.
Former Justice Dipak Gupta stated that judges seeking retirement posts would affect the independent nature of the judiciary. He asked how justice can be expected if judges on the threshold of retirement go to the corridors of power for positions. The remark comes after the controversy surrounding the appointment of Justice S Abdul Nazeer as Andhra Governor.
Meanwhile, former Justice Indira Banerjee said that she favors the demand for a separate department for judicial appointments. To find the best judges, it is advisable to collect the names of the eligible ones. A separate register should be opened for this purpose. Indira Banerjee also said that the collegium recommendations should be reconsidered if there are justifiable reasons