Law ministry leaks question marks about collegium's choice of next Punjab CJ

Tuesday, 15 July 2014 By Legally India Bar, Bench & Litigation

The Centre asked the collegium to reconsider its recommendation of Karnataka high court justice Manjunath for elevation to chief justice at Punjab & Haryana high court after, according to “highly placed sources in the law ministry”, the Centre received complaints against him, reported The Hindu.

Manjunath was recommended for the post alongside the transfer of present Punjab & Haryana chief justice Sanjay Kishen Kaul to Madras high court. Justice Kaul’s transfer file was cleared, but justice Manjunath’s file was sent back to the collegium for “clarification or reconsideration”.

The nomination of senior advocate Gopal Subramanium elevation to the Supreme Court bench was derailed after a series of media leaks about Subramanium resulted in the advocate declining his nomination.

Comments

Media 15 Jul 2014, 12:27

+2 -1

So this is how the new government will get its way when it isn't entitled to, constitutionally. Leak something to the ever-helpful media, let the word spread that the government doesn't want it, and wait for the relevant people to back down. Well played M

Guest 15 Jul 2014, 19:34

+3 -0

Is the collegium constitutional either sir? Which provision of the constitution permits exclusive Judicial self-selection? The institutional independence of the apex judiciary is not ensured by the presence of an opaque collegium, but could be weakened by it. With utmost respect to the great Judges of the apex court, citizens are wont to think that the Judges are acting in their own cause. The answer to the crisis is an open selection of best legal minds from the Bar and the Academia as well as renowned Judges from the High Courts. The government wants to have a say in Judge-selection and though the political interest is visible, they have an absolving advantage of having been elected to their seats of power. The Judges on the contrary, though of high competence and of brilliant minds, remain unelected stalwarts, causing a bit of intellectual and ideological unease in peoples' minds.

Dr. Ravindran Pranatharthy
Advocate

Guest 16 Jul 2014, 07:18

+0 -0

Having practiced in the High Court of Karnataka and before Justice Manjunath, i Personally feel that he is a good choice to be the Chief Justice

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