SC Collegium reiterates decision on judges` elevation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium is understood to have stuck to its recommendation to elevate chief justices of three High Courts to the apex court. The decision of the Collegium came after the government had asked it to reconsider its recommendation to elevate the three senior judges. The five-member Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas Kabir, is understood to have conveyed its decision to the government, sources in the Union Law and Justice ministry said today. The Collegium had nominated Orissa High Court Chief Justice V Gopala Gowda, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Madras High Court Chief Justice M Y Eqbal, but the government had asked it to reconsider the names. According to the present system based on a 1993 judgment of the Supreme Court, the government has the option of returning the Collegium’s recommendation once. But in case the collegium sends the same names for the second time, the government is bound to accept them and notify the appointments. The recommendation of the SC Collegium will now go to the Law Ministry and then to the Prime Minister`s Office from where it is sent to Rashtrapati Bhavan for a final approval. PTI