SC to examine plea on ‘master of roster’ issue

SC to examine plea on ‘master of roster’ issue

What has happened?

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a petition filed by former Union Law Minister Shanti Bhushan to declare that the authority of the Chief Justice of India as “master of roster” should not be reduced to an absolute, singular and arbitrary power

Sought help of AG

Bench seeks help of A-G on petition filed by former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan against ‘absolute discretion’ of CJI

Earlier judgments on the issue

• The Bench will hear the petition despite two separate judgments by the Supreme Court in November 2017 and on April 11, 2018, upholding the Chief Justice’s complete administrative authority to allocate cases and constitute Benches
• Both judgments were pronounced by Benches led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.
• The April 11 verdict called the CJI an “institution in himself”.

Judges Case ruling

The Judges Case of 1998: The Supreme Court itself had interpreted the term “Chief Justice of India” to mean the entire Collegium for the purposes of appointments and transfers of judges.

What is asked in the petition?

To clarify the administrative authority of the Chief Justice of India as the master of roster and for the laying down of the procedure and principles to be followed in preparing the roster for allocation of cases