From Our Bureau
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday criticised the Centre’s “pick and choose approach” while taking note of the delay in clearing the names of two Sikh lawyers for appointment as judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
“Two of the candidates not cleared are both Sikhs. Why should this arise? Don’t let past issues link up with present pending ones,” Bar and Bench quoted the bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia as saying.
The Supreme Court said such an approach disturbed the seniority among those recommended for judgeships and it “did not send a good signal”.
During the hearing, Justice Kaul said, “It doesn’t send a good signal if you pick and choose transfers and appointments. Last time, I also said, don’t do selective transfers.”
“Six transfers are pending — one each from Allahabad and Delhi and four from Gujarat. What signal do you send when, out of the transfers recommended, four judges from Gujarat are not transferred at all?” he said.
In response, Attorney General R Venkataramani said, “Due to elections and my own position, it has been delayed. I have communicated that it has to be done.”
Justice Kaul said there were 14 appointments of judges recommended by the Collegium. He said one judge was appointed in the Gauhati High Court.
