Sources told The Sunday Express that the CJI had also personally spoken to all the chief justices before writing to them.
A
week after the Supreme Court collegium headed by him cleared the last
of the pending recommendations from various high court collegiums for
appointment of judges, Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar has
written to chief justices of all high courts asking them to recommend
new names at the earliest.
At least three high court chief
justices confirmed having received the letter from CJI Khehar, saying it
requests them to call a meeting of their collegiums and recommend
suitable names.
Sources told The Sunday Express that the CJI had also personally spoken to all the chief justices before writing to them.
The
CJI is also learnt to have asked the chief justices to ensure that the
integrity of the recommended candidates is “beyond any shadow of doubt”,
apart from picking the best among practising advocates. The chief
justices have been asked to adhere to the new age criteria — no lawyer
below 45 years and above 55 years to be considered for elevation to the
bench — while finalising the names.
The CJI’s letter comes even
as the government is yet to take a call on the Memorandum of Procedure
which was sent to it by the Supreme Court collegium in early March.
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