SC grants centre one week for update on pending HC transfers, appointments

The central government on Tuesday sought a week's time to apprise the Supreme Court of the status of pending transfers of 26 high court judges and the appointment of chief justice to a "sensitive" high court. The appointment of nine high court judges, which the Supreme Court collegium has recommended, is also pending with the government.

A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul deferred the matter after attorney general R Venkataramani requested for a week to seek instructions. The bench said it would refrain from making any comments on Tuesday since the Centre has a week's time to respond.

In the recent past, the apex court had expressed its disapproval and concern over the way the Centre has been responding to the recommendations made by the Supreme Court collegium for the appointment/transfer of judges.


The Supreme Court in February observed that certain issues pertaining to judges' appointments were concerning.

On February 3, the top court warned the government of judicial and administrative actions that "may not be palatable" in case it kept dragging its feet in acting on the recommendations of the collegium on the transfer of high court judges.

On Tuesday, Venkataramani sought time to respond during the resumed hearing of a petition filed by the Advocates Association Bengaluru. The petitioner has contended that the Centre was in direct contravention of the 'Second Judges case' for not appointing names cleared by the collegium.