The Hindu : National : Some more judges for Madras High Court

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Saturday, Oct 01, 2005

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National

Some more judges for Madras High Court

J. Venkatesan

Law Ministry to clear 8 or 9 of 17 names recommended by collegium

Writ plea to expedite matter Fall in strength hurts efficiency of system Non-filling of vacancies "unconstitutional"

NEW DELHI T: he Union Law Ministry will clear in the first instance eight or nine names of the 17 recommended by the High Court collegium as approved by the Supreme Court for being appointed judges of the Madras High Court.

In respect of a few persons intelligence reports are sketchy and bereft of details, highly placed sources told The Hindu. Further comments were sought on these persons. Only after the receipt of complete details, could their names be processed.

The recommendations on five subordinate judges for elevation as High Court judges and three or four "non-controversial" lawyers chosen from the Bar would be processed further, leading to their appointments soon.

On Friday, the Supreme Court posted to October 19 a writ petition filed by the Madras High Court Advocates Association and its president, S. Prabhakaran, for a direction to the Centre to process the 17 names.

"What is the urgency?"

When Muthuraj Jayanth, counsel for the petitioner association, mentioned before a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti for an early hearing, the CJI said: "What is the urgency in this matter? Let it come in the normal course."

The association said the appointments were being delayed.

Now the strength of judges was only 23 and two were due to retire shortly. The decreasing strength not only deprived litigants of justice but also told on the efficiency of the legal system.

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