In a significant disclosure, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed the Lok Sabha on November 26 that as many as five recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium to transfer high court judges are pending with the government for more than six months. He said this in a written reply.
It should be pointed out here that the SC collegium recommends for the appointment, transfer and elevation of judges to the 25 high courts and the top court which are processed by the central government. Once cleared by the central government, the President of India then issues orders.
The minister also said the complaints received against judges and chief justices of high courts are handled by the judiciary through an “in-house mechanism”.
As per the established in-house procedure, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) receives complaints against the conduct of SC judges and HC chief justices. Similarly, Chief Justices of the High Courts receive complaints against the conduct of HC judges.
The minister also said that in order to ensure the independence of the judiciary, the complaints/representations received are forwarded to the CJI or to the chief justice of the concerned HC.
