The plot thickens

Justice Joseph case gets more curious

The case of Justice K M Joseph is getting more and more curious. The Supreme Court collegium appears to be putting on hold its earlier decision to reiterate its recommendation for the elevation of the Uttarakhand high court chief justice to the nation’s highest court. On the face of it, this might appear to be only a postponement of the decision to reiterate the elevation as the most senior judge, Justice J Chelameswar, is due to retire on June 22.

There is reason to believe, however, that the collegium would still reiterate its recommendation of the K M Joseph elevation, but only along with the names of some other chief justices of high courts, and only in July or later. But until that happens, the impression would remain that the highest judiciary is being dragged needlessly into the public eye because of internal differences that have to do with the manner of constituting benches and the actions of the Chief Justice of India as the absolute “Master of the Roster”. Unless and until the elevation of Justice Joseph is sent back to the Centre and it is put in a cleft stick on having to accept the reiteration, it would be easy to come to the conclusion that the highest judiciary is pawning its independence somewhat. That could lead to the most dangerous situation in the present scene in India, riven by the divisiveness triggered by politicians in their hunt for power.