Battle Between The Judiciary and The Government Over The Authority to Appoint Chief Justices and Not Acting Chief Justices

photo credit: supremecourtindia.

 IN a much-anticipated move to appoint regular chief justices for High Courts instead of having acting chiefs for months together, the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar has recommended nine names to the government for taking over as regular High Court chief justices.

 If cleared by the government, this could be the highest number of appointments of chief justices made in one go. Further, four of these names take into account the vacancies likely to be created in high courts after their chief justices are elevated to the top court as judges pursuant to the recommendation made separately by the collegium to the government last week.