The Himachal Pradesh High Court has submitted a report in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court regarding a plea filed by two district judges, Chirag Bhanu Singh and Arvind Malhotra. The judges alleged that their merit and seniority were overlooked for judgeship in the high court by its collegium.
The high court's registrar general stated that the chief justice had sought guidance from the Supreme Court on the suitability of Singh and Malhotra for elevation as HC judges. However, the high court did not receive a response from the Supreme Court collegium even after six months.
The Supreme Court has ordered the report to be furnished to the counsel assisting the petitioners and listed the matter for hearing on July 23. The petitioners alleged that junior judicial officers were recommended for HC judgeship under the in-service quota, despite their seniority and merit.
The plea questioned the selection process of the high court collegium and alleged that the apex court collegium's decision to send their names for reconsideration was ignored. The high court collegium proceeded to deliberate on other names, disregarding the petitioners' merit and seniority.
"The report in sealed cover is furnished by the Registrar General of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. A copy of the report was furnished today to Bina Madhavan, the counsel assisting Arvind P Datar, senior counsel appearing for the petitioners. The matter be re-listed on July 23," an apex court bench noted in the Monday order.
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