New Delhi, Delhi, India

The Supreme Court Collegium reiterated on Friday to elevate Justice KM Joseph's as an apex court judge.

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The five-member Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, said that there was "nothing adverse" regarding the suitability of Justice Joseph as has been pointed out in the letters of the Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The resolution of the Collegium meeting held on July 16 and uploaded today said that the two letters written by the Prasad to the CJI while returning the recommendation of Joseph were "carefully considered".

The resolution said, "We have carefully considered the observations made by the Law Minister in his letters dated April 26, 2018, and April 30, 2018, addressed to the Chief Justice of India referring back, for reconsideration, the recommendation made by us on 10th January 2018 for appointment of Mr Justice K M Joseph, Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court, as Judge of the Supreme Court." 

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"The Collegium, on due consideration of all the aspects mentioned in the aforesaid two letters, resolves to reiterate the aforementioned recommendation, especially since nothing adverse regarding the suitability of Justice K M Joseph has been pointed out in the aforesaid letters," it resolution said. 

Besides the CJI, other members of the Collegium are justices Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and A K Sikri. 

Justice Joseph's name was recommended by the collegium in January along with senior advocate of the top court and top court judge Justice Indu Malhotra.

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The Centre cleared Justice Malhotra's file, but sent Justice Joseph's file back to the collegium and asked it to reconsider its recommendation.

KM Joseph is currently serving as the chief justice of Uttarakhand high court. Before his appointment to Uttarakhand, he has served as judge of Kerala High Court form more than nine years.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has argued that Justice Joseph is being "punished" because gave an unfavourable verdict against BJP in 2016 while hearing the challenge to governor's rule in Uttarakhand, imposed by central government.

With today's recommendation, it binds the centre to accept it and clear ways to elevate Joseph to the top court.

(With inputs from news agencies)