Contempt petition in SC over delay in appointment of 11 High Court judges

By Legal Wires 4 Minutes Read

A contempt petition has been filed in the Supreme Court registering protest that the central government is sitting over and delaying the decision on 11 names proposed for appointment as High Court Judges by the Supreme Court Collegium.

The Advocates Association Bengaluru v. Barun Mitra, Secretary (Justice)

The plea contended that after the Chief Justice of India, head of Supreme Court Collegium, reiterates the names for the appointment of judges then such appointment shall be processed and appointment shall be made within 3 to 4 weeks.

The petitioner-Association has also contended that the non-appointment of the eleven proposed as High Court Judges by the Supreme Court Collegium has “an adverse impact on the Rule of Law, which has been held to be a part of the basic structure of the Constitution.”

The Association highlighted the following eleven names proposed by the Supreme Court Collegium:

1. Jaytosh Majumdar (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Calcutta High Court Judge; First recommended on July 24, 2019; Name reiterated on September 1, 2021.

2. Amitesh Banerjee (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Calcutta High Court Judge; First recommended on July 24, 2019; Name reiterated on September 1, 2021.

3. Raja Basu Chowdhury (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Calcutta High Court Judge; First recommended on July 24, 2019; Name reiterated on September 1, 2021.

4. Lapita Banerji (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Calcutta High Court Judge; First recommended on July 24, 2019; Name reiterated on September 1, 2021.

5. Moksha Kazmi (Khajuria) (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Jammu & Kashmir High Court Judge; First recommended on October 15, 2019; Name reiterated on September 9, 2021.

6. Rahul Bharti (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Jammu & Kashmir High Court Judge; First recommended on March 2, 2021; Name reiterated on September 1, 2021.

7. Nagendra Ramachandra Naik (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Karnataka High Court Judge; First recommended on October 3, 2019; Name first reiterated March 2, 2021; Name reiterated a second time on September 1, 2021.

8. Aditya Sondhi (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Karnataka High Court Judge; First recommended on February 4, 2021; Name reiterated on September 1, 2021.

9. J Umesh Chandra Sharma (Judicial Officer)

Proposed for appointment as Allahabad High Court Judge; First recommended on February 4, 2021; Name reiterated on August 24, 2021.

10. Syed Waiz Mian (Judicial Officer)

Proposed for appointment as Allahabad High Court Judge; First recommended on February 4, 2021; Name reiterated on August 24, 2021.

11. Sakya Sen (Advocate)

Proposed for appointment as Calcutta High Court Judge; First recommended July 24, 2019; Name reiterated on October 8, 2021.