The Centre informed the Supreme Court that it had cleared 70 names forwarded by high courts for judicial positions and sent to the SC collegium, as well as made the decision to transfer 12 high court judges out of the 26 recommended. The Centre had been pressed by the court to swiftly clear the names sent for judicial positions or prepare for some unpleasant order.
Additionally, it stated that out of the 19 names suggested, the government would soon adopt the collegium's recommendations for the appointment of the Chief Justice of Manipur and five judges in various HCs.
The Centre was given until October 9 to come up with "some results" or be prepared to deal with issues. The apex court set this deadline after taking a dim view of the Center's decision to hold onto the 89 names that were recommended for judgeships and its failure to act on the collegium's recommendation for the transfer of 26 high court judges and the appointment of 19 new judges.
At the outset of hearing, a SC bench praised attorney general R Venkataramani for convincing the government to clear the names.
At the outset of hearing, a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia praised attorney general R Venkataramani for convincing the government to clear the names. Justice Kaul, who is part of the SC collegium, said that collegium received 70 names from the law ministry and it would examine them and take a decision most probably within two weeks before Durga Puja holidays. The AG said that the government would take a call on remaining recommendations pending before it.