A crucial meeting of the Supreme CourtCollegium is likely to take place tomorrow to reconsider the name of the UttarakhandHigh CourtChief JusticeK M Joseph for elevation as a Judgeof the apex court which was sent back by the government last week, an Officialsaid today.
The five-member collegium, comprising Chief JusticeMisraand justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokurand Kurian Joseph, is likely to discuss threadbare the note sent to the CJI by Law MinisterRavi Shankar Prasadwhile returning the file relating to the recommendation to elevate Justice Joseph as an Apex Court Judge
Justice Joseph's name was recommended along with the Senior AdvocateIndu Malhotraon January 10 for their elevation as apex court judges. The government had on April 26 declined to accept the recommendation of the Collegium and asked it to reconsider his name.
Malhotra was sworn in as the Judgeof the apex court on April 27.
Justice K M Joseph, who had headed the bench that had quashed the Narendra Modi government's decision to impose President's rule in the Congress-ruled hill state in 2016, was not considered to be elevated as a Supreme CourtJudgeby the Centre which said the proposal was not in accordance with the top court's parameters and there was adequate representation of Keralain the higher judiciary from where he hails.
His seniority was also questioned by the Centre which said "he stands at Sl. No.45 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on all-Indiabasis."
Justice Joseph, who turns 60 this June, has been the Chief Justiceof the UttarakhandHigh Courtsince July 2014. He was appointed a Permanent Judgeof the KeralaHigh Courton October 14, 2004 and assumed charge of the UttarakhandHigh Courton July 31, 2014.
The members of the collegium including Justices Chelameswar, Gogoi, Lokur and Kurian Josephhad expressed concern over the delay in clearing the name of the UttarakhandChief Justiceas the Apex Court Judge
Notwithstanding the letters written by the collegium members to the CJI, which had come into the public domain, the centre disregarded the recommendation about Justice Joseph.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)