{"id":180180,"date":"2022-04-19T20:21:56","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T14:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=180180"},"modified":"2022-04-19T20:21:56","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T14:51:56","slug":"pendency-begins-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/pendency-begins-here\/","title":{"rendered":"Pendency Begins Here\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">News:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) expressed concern that many names cleared by the SC collegium were pending with the government for a considerable period. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">However, the Union law minister told Rajya Sabha that the government has never deliberately delayed the process of judicial appointments. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Status of judicial vacancies in India<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Around <strong>35%<\/strong> of judge\u2019s seats are vacant in the High Courts. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The most number of vacancies are present in the HCs of Patna (49%), Rajasthan (48%) and Calcutta (46%).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is the judicial appointment procedure in India?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">(A) The Collegium System<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/the-collegium-system-explained-pointwise\/\">collegium system<\/a><\/strong><\/span> was created through famously known as the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Three Judges Cases (SC)<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The collegium comprises the chief justice of the court along with its senior-most judges. The collegium is constituted both at the SC level and at high courts. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">(B) Memorandum of Procedure (MoP)<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It is a collaborative framework between government and judiciary. It was prepared in 1998 pursuant to the Three Judges Cases. It largely governs the judicial appointment procedure in India.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">For appointment of HC judges<\/span>:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The HC collegium suggests names for elevation. The names travel through various departments of the state government, Intelligence Bureau and the central government. Then they are sent to the SC collegium for approval.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The SC collegium considers the names. Then the final list is forwarded to the Central government for appointment.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If the central government has any reservation, the names are sent back to the SC collegium for reconsideration. However, if the collegium deems that the recommendations are sound, it reiterates its stance. Then the Centre is required to make the appointment.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Timeframe stipulated in the MOP for the appointment procedure<\/span>:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> The Centre forwards the recommendations to the SC collegium within 4-6 weeks after receiving the report from the state government and IB. The SC collegium should submit the final list within 4 weeks to the Centre. The central government should put forth the list for President\u2019s assent within 3 weeks. In case of reiteration of recommendations by the SC collegium, the final appointment should be made within 8-12 weeks.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><em>The Chief Justice of India mentioned that the notion of <b>\u201cjudges themselves appointing judges\u201d<\/b> is a <b>\u201cmyth\u201d<\/b>. The judiciary is just one of the players in the selection process. The judiciary has the first say in the selection process. However, the government has the final say.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What are the issues in the judicial appointment process?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The stipulated time frame is not followed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>&#8211;<\/strong> For example, in 2021, <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the government<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> sent a list to SC Collegium after an average of 18 weeks after taking inputs from IB. Further, the<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> SC collegium <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">sent the final list to the central government<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">after an average of 17 weeks. Further, an average of 41 days (6 weeks) were taken from the date of final resolution of the SC collegium to the appointment of judges in HCs.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A <strong>lot of delay<\/strong> happens in appointment of judges whose names have been reiterated by the SC collegium.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is the impact of delays in appointment<\/span><\/b><strong>?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Such delays in the appointment process impact the number of vacancies and thus the pendency of cases.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The delay in appointment despite constant reiterations by the SC collegium discourages potential candidates like senior lawyers from joining the judgeship. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">For example, senior advocate Aditya Sondhi withdrew his consent for elevation to the Karnataka HC citing a delay of a year.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is the way forward?<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There is a need for <strong>devising realistic timeframes<\/strong>. It can be done using appropriate data.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The collegium resolutions sent by HCs and some of the intermediary steps <strong>should be made public.<\/strong> It can bring more transparency about how much time is being taken by the collegium and the government.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Source:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> The post is based on an article \u201c<strong>Pendency Begins Here<\/strong>\u201d published in <strong>the Times of India<\/strong> on <strong>19<\/strong><\/span><strong>th<\/strong><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong> Apr 22<\/strong>.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>News: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) expressed concern that many names cleared by the SC collegium were pending with the government for a considerable period. However, the Union law minister told Rajya Sabha that the government has never deliberately delayed the process of judicial appointments. \u00a0 Status of judicial vacancies in India\u00a0 Around 35% of&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/pendency-begins-here\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Pendency Begins Here\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10328,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230,9],"tags":[212,10496],"class_list":["post-180180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","category-public","tag-gs-paper-2","tag-times-of-india","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10328"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180180\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=180180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=180180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}