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Views of states, Centre should be considered for appointment of judges : Supreme Court

by IBNS 15 Dec 2015, 08:54 pm

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IBNS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that views of state governments and Centre should be one of the criteria for appointment of judges in higher judiciary, reports said.

The apex court said that Memorandum of Proceedings (MOP) on appointment of judges in higher judiciary should be in consultation with the Centre and Chief Justice of India.

"Transparency is most important in the appointment of judges for higher judiciary and it should be reflected in the MoP. The MOP should also clearly contain eligibility criteria like minimum age etc. as guidance for appointment of judges of high court and Supreme Court," the court said.

The court said that minutes of collegium proceedings have to be recorded giving details of dissent, if any, but confidentiality of selection process has to be maintained.

Refusing to toe the Supreme Court observation,  the Centre had refused to formulate draft memorandum of procedure to be followed by the collegium for appointment of judges to Supreme Court and High Courts.

The Supreme Court had asked the Centre to formulate memorandum of procedure for the collegium reforms.