Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 3: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed its concern regarding the issue of keeping the transfer list of the high court judges pending with the Centre and also warned the central government that delaying the transfer of judges would lead to administrative actions that may not be palatable.
A bench, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that the transfer is a serious issue.
“We have put to the Attorney General that any delay in this may lead to administrative actions which might not be palatable,” said the court.
The Supreme Court stated, “Extremely concerned about how the Centre is not approving even decisions on transfer of judges. While the government may have an opinion regarding new appointments, it is against the law to prevent even the transfer of judges.”
Moreover, the court cautioned that it does not make the court take a difficult stand and stated that it will not permit third parties to clear their names in this matter.
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The Supreme Court Collegium and the government have disagreed for a long time about who should be appointed to the Supreme Court and other high courts. It said that the government had been repeatedly accused of ‘sitting’ on the recommended names and failing to clear them over the last year. It stated that the government must approve a name once it has been reiterated by the Collegium.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General stated today that they will clear the names within five days on the matter of the Supreme Court December collegium recommendation of elevating five judges to the top court, which is pending with the Centre.
Thereafter the court adjourned the matter.
The petition against the Centre to withhold the Collegium-recommended names of judges for their appointment in the various High courts and Supreme Court pending was being heard by the court.
