SC raps Centre for not appointing judges despite collegium recommendations

The Supreme Court slammed the Centre on Friday for not appointing judges despite recommendations made by the collegium saying the government can't sit over a situation where executive inaction is decimating the judiciary.

"Courtrooms across the country are being locked out due to lack of judges despite recommendations made by the collegium but the government is sitting on them," the apex court said.

You have committed that process of appointment will continue without finalisation of the Memorandum of Procedure. There should not be a deadlock in appointment of judges. You (Centre) cannot bring the institution to a grinding halt, the court said.

The apex court said the government had committed that the process of appointment will continue without finalisation of the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP). The finalistation of the MoP has nothing to do with the ongoing appointment process in the judiciary, it added.

The attorney general told SC that the government is studying the recommendations as some of the names were not consistent with the MoP.

The apex court has fixed November 11 as the next date of hearing.