M A I N   N E W S

Bedi named CJ of Mumbai HC
Jain to be CJ of Punjab and Haryana High Court
S.S. Negi
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 31
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of four high court chief justices, including Mr Justice Vijender Jain and Mr Justice H.S. Bedi as the Chief Justices of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Bombay High Court, respectively.

At present, Mr Justice Jain is functioning as the acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court while Mr Justice Bedi has the same position in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The collegium of five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Y.K. Sabharwal, forwarded the recommendations to the Law Ministry last week.

The ministry would forward their cases to the respective state governments for their opinion before sending the same to the Prime Minister, who would consequently place the matter before the President for the final approval, sources said.

The collegium, which met last week, also finalised the names of two other high court chief justices for appointment. These include Mr Justice M.K. Sharma and Mr Justice M. Karpagavinayagan as Chief Justices of the Delhi and Jharkhand high courts, respectively.

While Justice Sharma is being elevated from the Delhi High Court, Justice Karpagavinayagan is at present posted in the Madras High Court.

The collegium also recommended the transfer of Mr Justice S.J. Mukopadhayaya from the Jharkhand High Court to the Madras High Court where he would be the number two after Chief Justice A.P. Shah.

UPA for executive say in SC, HC judges’ appointments
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 31
The government today told the Rajya Sabha that a constitutional amendment and a process of consultation were needed to restore executive powers in the matter of appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

Replying to supplementaries during question hour, Law and Justice Minister H.R. Bharadwaj said he would be very happy if the Rajya Sabha could achieve by debate a consensus on the issue of restoring executive powers in appointing Supreme Court and High Court judges.

He said the Fifteenth Parliament Standing Committee report on the Law and Justice Ministry dealing with the issue could be discussed in the House and a consensus evolved on the issue.

“Executive should also have its say. There should be proper respect of executive views in appointments. I’m one of those people who believe that the power be vested in the executive because we are responsible to the people”, the minister said.

Replying to a question by Samajwadi Party member Amar Singh on rules for appointment of Judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court before 1993 and existing rules, the Law Minister said the executive was responsible for initiating proposal for appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts, but it changed after a judgement by the apex court in 1993.

“We are in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and we have achieved a lot of speed in the process of appointment of judges. I don’t think there is any delay in appointment of judges. We have appointed a record number of judges in the past two years.”

Replying to a question by CPM member Sitaram Yechury on the delay in setting up the National Judicial Commission as promised in the UPA government’s common minimum programme, the Law Minister said it would need a consensus and a two-thirds majority.

“If there is a consensus, we will implement it.”

Mr Yechury said he held the judiciary in the highest esteem, but the right to question the unfairness of the judges should be included. “It should not be seen as casting aspersions.”