The Hindu : Front Page : CJI for strict scrutiny of names for post of High Court judges

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Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008
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CJI for strict scrutiny of names for post of High Court judges

J. Venkatesan

Sends 25-point
pro forma
seeking details
High Court had forwarded 14 names to the Centre

NEW DELHI: With a view to ensuring strict scrutiny of the 14 names sent by the Madras High Court for appointment of judges in the existing vacancies, Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan has called for more details in respect of each of them on a 25-point pro forma.

Following the CJI’s recommendation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to initiate proceedings for the removal of Justice Soumitra Sen, Calcultta High Court Judge, a question arose as to how Mr. Sen was recommended for judgeship.

Subsequently, the CJI made it clear that in future there would be strict scrutiny of candidates. According to him, the search process should identify good practising lawyers, who had been meticulous and who displayed exemplary behaviour and dignified conduct in their profession.

The 25-point pro forma sent to each of the 14 candidates is a sequel to the CJI’s commitment to ensure that the selection process is not vitiated in any manner.

They 14 names are: R. Mala, Aruna Jagadeesan, G.M. Akbar Ali, T.S. Sivagnanam, Raja Elango, C.T. Selvam, T. Raja, M.M. Sundaresan, C.S. Karnan, Hari Paramanandam, N. Kirubakaran, R.S. Ramanathan, B. Rajendran and Doraiswamy.

Details sought in the pro forma include: number of years of practice indicating the places and courts of practice; field of specialisation – civil, criminal, constitutional, taxation, labour, company, services etc – with reported and unreported judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts for the last five years in which he had argued independently; his/her association with any political party; position held in the bar association or Bar Council or in the government; whether member of any club; whether any case pending against him/her and whether there was prosecution or conviction; whether spouse or any blood relation is practising in the High Court; if so whether he/she can give consent for transfer to another High Court for two years; whether related to any of the High Court or Supreme Court judge and any proceeding pending in the Bar Council.

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