CHENNAI: In the wake of Supreme Court judge Chelameswar’s refusal to attend the collegium meetings, the Madras Bar Association, one of the two oldest bar associations in the State, has said that the collegium must include the next seniormost judge and carry out the business to avoid delay in selection of judges.
In its letter to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel Public Grievances, Law and Justice, the association, among other suggestions, said that if a judge of the collegium was unable to attend three consecutive meetings, the next seniormost judge must be included. The association was responding to a letter from the committee inviting suggestions on selection process.
Another key suggestion by the bar association was setting of a time frame for every stage of judge selection process. The memorandum said the selection process should be started by the High Court at least nine months in advance of the expected vacancy caused by retirement. Name should be recommended seven months in advance. The vacancy should be earmarked respectively for the Bar and Service, taking into consideration the existing strength of judges representing the Bar and Service so that the proportion of 3:1 could be maintained.
It urged that a 60-day deadline must be set for the states to convey their views on the candidates and the Supreme Court must forward the same to the Centre within 60 days. The Centre must also send its recommendations to the President within 60 days from the receipt of the communication from the SC. The practice of returning the list under consideration due to change in Chief Justice or Chief Minister must be discontinued, the association said. Senior advocate Vijay Narayan and advocate S Manuraj would represent the association before the committee in New Delhi on November 2.