Supreme Court collegium likely to share files for judge selection

NEW DELHI: Chief justice of India TS Thakur’s attempts to get justice Jasti Chelameswar to end his boycott of collegium proceedings having failed, the Supreme Court collegium may move to select judges for the top court by circulating names of candidates among the body’s members. A high-level source said Thakur was considering this option to push through urgent appointments while addressing concerns raised by Chelameswar about the lack of transparency in the collegium’s functioning.

“This time the names will be cleared by circulation,” the person said on condition of anonymity. This will allow collegium members to record their views on elevating a high court chief justice or judge to the top court. “This will take care of Justice Jasti Chelameswar’s concerns,” said the person.

Thakur intends to initiate the process of appointing some top court judges before he demits office in January. The judge strength in the top court is 28 against the sanctioned strength of 31. However, four judges will retire by the end of this year, taking vacancies to at least seven. The move to clear elevations by circulation would be unprecedented. It means the collegium comprising the CJI and the next four senior-most judges in the hierarchy will not sit face to face and exchange views as is normally done.

Instead, files containing their names will go to one judge after the other for their views to be recorded. Chelameswar is part of the top court collegium for appointments and for the transfer of high court judges