CJI Gavai laments delay in judicial appointments

Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai on Thursday said he has been trying to persuade the Union government on the administrative side to expedite judicial appointments, even as he lamented that an “extraordinary” woman lawyer recently withdrew her consent for elevation to the Delhi high court after waiting for nearly a year without any response from the Centre.

- Utkarsh Anand

The CJI's anguish over the Centre's inaction on judicial appointments came after a long-pending contempt plea over delays in processing collegium recommendations was mentioned before him for assigning a date of hearing.

Senior counsel Arvind Datar, representing for the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, mentioned the plea concerning prolonged delays by the Centre in clearing names recommended, and in many cases reiterated by the collegium for appointment to various high courts.

Datar pointed out that some names have been pending since 2019, despite multiple reiterations in 2021 and 2022. “It cannot be three or four years. Timelines have also been laid down by this court,” said Datar, urging the bench to revive the long-dormant case. The matter was last listed in December 2023, but dropped without explanation on the day it was fixed before a bench led by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul (since retired), he said.

‘Acknowledging the growing frustration among recommended candidates due to the government's inaction, the CJI said: “We have also been trying to persuade the government on the administrative side.”