New Delhi: Allahabad High Chief Justice
Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, against whom allegations of
corruption were found to be baseless by the Supreme Court
Collegium, was today sworn-in as a judge of the apex court.
Prasad, 60, was administered the oath of secrecy by Chief
Justice of India K G Balakrishnan in the Supreme Court in the
presence of other judges.
With his appointment, the total strength of the judges in
the Supreme Court has gone upto 27 against the sanctioned
strength of 31.
The Collegium had in November last recommended the names
of Prasad and Bombay High Court Chief Justice Swatantar Kumar
for elevation as Supreme Court judges. Justice Kumar`s
elevation was approved by the President and he was sworn in as
as an apex court judge on December 18.
However, the government returned the file seeking
clarifications on allegations of corruption against Prasad.
The file also contained a noted by President Pratibha
Patil asking whether seniority among High Court Chief Justices
had been overlooked in the recommendation.
The collegium examined the corruption allegations and
found them baseless and returned the file to the Law Ministry
for processing the appointment.
Under the Memorandum of Procedure, once the collegium
confirms its recommendation and sends back the file, the
President is bound to accept it. The President then cleared
the appointment of Prasad.
PTI
