New Delhi | The Union Law Ministry on Friday cleared the elevation of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph as a Supreme Court Judge.
The central government had earlier rejected the promotion of Justice Joseph citing inadequate representation in the top court from other states. This led to a series of tussle between the Central government and Supreme court collegium. The collegium after the retirement of Justice Challemeshwar again put forward the name of Justice Joseph for the second time last month.
According to government sources, the ministry cannot stop the appointment after the Supreme Court collegium reiterated his name a second time. The rules state that if the collegium recommends a name a second time, the centre has no choice but to accept it. However unnamed sources in the Law Ministry said that “Objections to Justice Joseph’s elevation were not personal but procedural.”
Centre’s denial in the elevation of Justice Joseph has sparked controversy as the Opposition alleged that the NDA government has stoped the promotion of Justice Joseph as in his verdict in 2016 canceledthe President’s Rule in Uttarakhand, which helped the Congress retain power.
Along with the elevation of Justice Joseph, the Centre also started the appointment process of Madras High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Orissa High Court Chief Justice Vineet Saran.
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