LI Network
Published on: November 08, 2023 at 12:50 IST
In a significant development, the Supreme Court issued a series of directives concerning the recruitment of District Judges in the High Courts of Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, presided over the proceedings.
The Court’s actions aimed to streamline the recruitment process for District Judges in these states, emphasizing the need for a defined timeline. The matter pertaining to the High Court of Tamil Nadu is set to be addressed in conjunction with other applications at a later date.
With regard to Madhya Pradesh, the Court noted that in August 2023, 21 vacancies were advertised for the direct recruitment of District Judges in the 25% quota. However, the Court highlighted a significant delay in notifying the date for the preliminary examination after the advertisement.
In response, the High Court was directed to establish a comprehensive schedule, including the preliminary examination date and subsequent stages, which should be published in an advertisement. Compliance with this schedule was expected within one week.
Additionally, for appointments under the 10% quota, the Court mandated that the notification for the successful candidates’ appointment must be issued within fifteen days from the date of the order.
Furthermore, the Court directed that the process for filling vacancies for Civil Judge (Senior Division) should be completed by December 7, 2023, with a specified time schedule.
Concerning the High Court of Punjab, the Court initially issued directions for appointments under the 25% direct recruitment quota for District Judges.
The Recruitment and Promotion Committee was tasked with formulating a schedule for completing the process expeditiously, ensuring compliance by March 31, 2004. Similar timelines were established for appointments under the 10% quota and the 65% promotional quota.
For the recruitment of Civil Judge (Junior Division), the Court noted that the process had already been finalized, and the State Government was instructed to issue a formal notification by December 7, 2023.
The Court also called upon the High Court to provide a report on the steps taken to address infrastructural issues for the District Judiciary, including land allocation.
In the context of the High Court of Haryana, the Court acknowledged an upcoming Committee meeting and directed that the Court be informed of the decisions made.
The 65% promotional quota for District Judges faced scrutiny due to pending candidate petitions, with the Court seeking updates during the next hearing.
Finally, the Court addressed the recruitment of Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Haryana, taking into account the issuance of amendment rules on November 7. The High Court was instructed to act accordingly and establish a timeline for the completion of the process.
These directives from the Supreme Court seek to streamline and expedite the recruitment processes for District Judges in multiple states, ensuring greater efficiency and transparency in the judiciary.
