Why delay in notifying new CJI: Congress

NEW DELHI: The Congress has questioned the “delay” in notifying the outgoing Chief Justice of India’s recommendation naming Justice JS Khehar as his successor, raising the issue after the Narendra Modi government appointed Lt General Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief by overlooking his seniors.

Given the recent controversy over the government appointing an “interim CBI chief” after transferring out an officer many thought would have succeeded the outgoing head of the investigating agency, appointments to sensitive offices have come under sharper spotlight.

“Why is the government delaying the notification of the next CJI when the current incumbent will retire on the 3rd of January? After all, it’s a collegium recommendation (of the name of Justice Khehar) and the government, going by the SC judgment, is duty-bound to respect the recommendation of the collegium,” Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said.

Tewari said the government also created “controversies” in the manner in which it appointed the CVC and the “non-appointment” of a fulltime director of ED and CBI.