Govt. delaying Collegium recommendations on appointment of judges to High Courts, says SC

It has affected the early adjudication of important cases, says apex court

The Centre’s delay, for months and years on end, to act on the recommendations of the Collegium and appoint judges to High Courts has affected the early adjudication of important cases, especially high-stake commercial issues, the Supreme Court lashed out in an order on Monday. “The Delhi High Court will be with less than 50% judges in a week’s time, having only 29 judges out of a strength of 60 judges... Two decades back when one of us [Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul] was appointed as a judge, it was as the 32nd judge of the Court whereas the strength was 33 judges,” a Bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy noted in the order. The government’s “recalcitrant attitude” has left the High Courts with skeletal judicial strength. The government has ignored the timeline set by the Supreme Court to decide on the Collegium recommendations.