The Supreme Court on Friday recorded a submission by Attorney General R. Venkataramani that warrants of appointment of five judges to the apex court will be likely issued by February 5.
It is happening… The five warrants of appointment are being issued… It goes to the President by evening. They will be issued,” Mr. Venkataramani said
The Collegium had recommended Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal, Patna High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Karol, Manipur High Court Chief Justice P V Sanjay Kumar, Patna High Court judge Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Allahabad High Court judge Manoj Misra to the Supreme Court on December 13, 2022. They have been pending with the government for nearly two months.
The Collegium had further proposed Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Rajesh Bindal and Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Aravind Kumar to the government for appointment as apex court judges on January 31. The appointment of all seven would see the court function with its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
The five recommendations were made in December, we are in February… You are saying, and we have faith in you, that the warrants will be issued. That ‘it is happening’… ‘When’ is the next question,” a Bench of Justices SK Kaul and AS Oka asked the top law officer.
“By Sunday, they will be issued… it is happening,” Mr. Venkataramani said, hesitant to be pinned down to a specific day as the court hearing progressed.
Happening, happened, will happen’… When things have not been happening for years together, we do not want you to give a date, but tell us in how many days it will happen… two days, three days, four days? There may be an ‘unexpected delay’. I am asking you on the judicial side. How many days should we record in our order? Can we say five days… You said by Sunday, we are giving you a longer leeway,” Justice Kaul asked.
“With a sense of responsibility I am saying, the five warrants will be issued. It is happening,” Mr. Venkataramani said.
“Happening ‘shortly’ then?” Justice Kaul asked.
10 days to clear High Court judge transfers
The court further put the government on an ultimatum, giving it 10 days to clear Supreme Court Collegium recommendations on transfer of High Court judges and High Court appointments, especially pending appointments of High Court Chief Justices.
