The Union government has proposed to the Supreme Court that the search-cum-evaluation committee for appointing judges and chief justices in the higher judiciary should include a representative nominated by the Centre.
In response to questions in the Rajya Sabha, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday clarified that the government has not requested the Supreme Court to include a government nominee in the collegium.
In a communication sent to the Supreme Court on January 6, the government also emphasized the importance of finalizing the memorandum of procedure (MoP) to guide the appointment, transfer, and elevation of Supreme Court and high court judges. The MoP is a set of documents that outlines the processes for these appointments.
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According to the Law Minister, for the appointment of judges in the high courts, the search-cum-evaluation committee should consist of representatives nominated by the Centre and the respective state governments. The committee will be responsible for creating a list of eligible candidates from which the respective collegiums will make recommendations.
The minister said that these suggestions will contribute to a more transparent, accountable, and efficient mechanism for appointing judges to the constitutional courts, which include the Supreme Court and 25 high courts. The government's proposal aims to improve the processes and ensure that the higher judiciary remains impartial and independent.
