Government transfers 16 judges 2 days before Supreme Court hearing

Two days before the hearing of petitions seeking expeditious appointments by the Central government of judges recommended by the Supreme Court and high court collegium, the Centre on Wednesday notified the transfer of 16 high court judges.

The petition is slated to come up for hearing before a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on October 20. At the last hearing, the bench had held that there should be no delay by the Centre in appointing judges and that the Centre should not keep the names (recommended for elevation) in a "limbo".

The bench had added that either the names recommended (for elevation) should be notified or be returned by the Centre to the collegium with reservations "promptly". The bench had further observed that the government "must" appoint judges once the SC collegium reiterates the names sent by it for elevation.