Thu Sep 19 11:27:00 UTC 2024: ## Government Delays Judge Appointments, Supreme Court Seeks Answers

**New Delhi:** The Indian government has faced renewed pressure from the Supreme Court over its delayed appointments of judges to various High Courts across the country. On Thursday, September 19, the Attorney General, R Venkataramani, requested a week’s adjournment to provide the court with details regarding the pending recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium for Chief Justice appointments.

The request came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Harsh Vibhore Singhal, who argues that the government’s arbitrary delays in notifying appointments without a fixed timeframe violate judicial principles. The PIL seeks a directive for the government to establish a set timeline for processing judicial appointments recommended by the collegium.

Adding to the pressure, the Jharkhand government filed a contempt petition against the Centre for its failure to appoint Justice MS Ramachandra Rao as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, despite the collegium’s recommendation. The Attorney General, unaware of the contempt petition, previously informed the court about the delay due to “sensitive material” received by the government, claiming that revealing such information publicly would be detrimental to the institution and the judges involved. He proposed sharing these details with the court in a sealed cover.

The Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, has ordered the government to provide details on the collegium recommendations next week and will hear the PIL on September 27. The court’s continued scrutiny of the government’s actions underscores the urgency of addressing the judicial appointment backlog and ensuring the efficient functioning of the Indian judiciary.

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