New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Chief Justices of various High Courts to set up committees of two or three judges each to monitor the selection and appointment of judicial officers in subordinate courts in a time-bound manner.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Justice C.K. Thakker asked the committees to adopt a professional approach in the selection and appointment procedures.

The Chief Justices have been requested to appoint a senior officer as Registrar to assist the committees, who would send reports by January 1 every year to the Supreme Court on the appointments made.

The Bench rejected the apprehensions of the State Governments that this method would amount to interference with the independence of the State Governments' right in making judicial appointments.

The Bench noted that delay in the appointment of judicial officers was one of the reasons for the delay in the justice delivery.

Describing the apprehension as misplaced the Bench said, "in no circumstance can it be said to be interference in the independent function of authorities under the rules or with the independent function of the State Public Services Commissions. The idea is to make the entire judiciary more professional."

As per the time schedule, vacancies are to be notified by the High Court by March 31; advertisements inviting applications April 15; publication of the list of eligible applicants May 15; written examination June 30; declaration of results August 16; viva voce September 1 to 7; declaration of final selection list September 15; issue of appointment letters September 30 and date of joining October 31.

In the cadre of District Judges, 25 per cent of the vacancies are to be filled by direct recruitment from the Bar (from among lawyers) and 25 per cent by promotion through limited competitive examination of civil judges. The remaining 50 per cent of the vacancies are to be filled by promotion from among civil judges (senior division) on the basis of the principle of merit-cum-seniority and passing suitability test.

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