Centre rejects recommendations made by Collegium to elevate 10 judges
The names of 10 judges recommended for elevation by the Supreme Court Collegium have not received a go-ahead from the Central government. The files, returned on November 25, also include the name of senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal, the son of former Chief Justice of India BN Kirpal. Sources say some names that were reiterated by the Collegium have also been returned.
In an interview to NDTV earlier this month, Mr Kirpal said he believed his elevation was viewed with disfavour because of his sexual orientation.
“The reason is my sexuality I don’t think the government necessarily wants to appoint an openly gay person to the bench,” Mr Kirpal, 50, told NDTV. His elevation was being stalled since at least 2017.
The roadblock comes amid a fresh focus on the process of selection of judges for elevation, conducted by the Collegium of the Supreme Court.
A petition has been filed in the top court, alleging “wilful disobedience” of the court-mandated time frame on appointments, which is currently being heard by a two-judge bench.