High court junks PIL challenging collegium system of judges appointment

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has junked a public interest litigation (PIL) filed seeking quashing the collegium system of appointment of judges to the high courts and the Supreme Court.

The petitioner, Satya Veer Sharma, a Gurgaon resident, had argued that the process was non-transparent and secret and excludes 95% of the lawyers, who were practising in subordinate courts and tribunals, though they were “equally meritorious”.

It was further prayed that applications be invited from all eligible persons at the time of filling vacancies. Interim direction was also sought not to act upon the recommendations made by Punjab and Haryana high court collegium for elevation as judges, for which 10 names were recommended in June.

Finding no merit in the petition, the HC bench of justice Rajesh Bindal and justice Darshan Singh dismissed it stating that in 2015 the National Judicial Appointments Commission was declared unconstitutional and guidelines were laid down for appointments.