A crucial meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium was held today to discuss the issue of reconsidering the name of Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph for elevation to the apex court, after it was returned by the Centre. 
Official sources said the members of the Collegium deliberated on the issue for nearly an hour. Details on the outcome of the meeting are awaited.

All members of the Collegium -- Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, participated in the deliberations.&nbsp;

The decision to convene the meeting was taken late last evening by the CJI.

It is pertinent to mention that Justice J Chelameswar, the senior-most judge of the apex court, had on May 9 written a letter to the CJI urging him to convene the Collegium meet to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/convene-meeting-of-collegium-resend-justice-km-josephs-name-to-centre-justice-chelameswar-to-cji-misra-135904">urgently forward Justice Joseph's name</a> to the Centre.

The government had on April 26 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-asks-collegium-to-reconsider-elevation-of-justice-km-joseph-to-supreme-court-sources-132958">returned the Collegium's recommendation</a> to elevate Justice Joseph seeking its reconsideration, saying the proposal was not in accordance with the top court's parameters and there was adequate representation of Kerala in the higher judiciary from where he hails. It had also questioned his seniority for elevation as a judge of the apex court.

According to an apex court official, Justice Chelameswar, in his letter sent to the CJI, had conveyed that he was reiterating his decision favaouring elevation of Justice Joseph as the judge of the top court as there was no change in the circumstances that had led the Collegium to recommend his name to the government on January 10.

It is also learnt that Justice Chelameswar, who retires on June 22, has responded to all the points raised in the communication to the CJI by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad expressing reservations on the elevation of Justice Joseph.

The meeting of the Collegium was expected to take place on May 9 but Justice Chelameswar was on leave.&nbsp;

Justice Kurian Joseph, during his visit to Kerala last week, had also reportedly made it clear that he was in favour of reiterating the recommendation of the Collegium on the issue concerning the Uttarakhand Chief Justice.&nbsp;

Justice Jasti Chelameswar had wrtten to Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Thursday urging him to convene a meeting of the collegium, and send Justice Joseph's name back to the Centre

A crucial meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium was held today to discuss the issue of reconsidering the name of Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph for elevation to the apex court, after it was returned by the Centre. Official sources said the members of the Collegium deliberated on the issue for nearly an hour. Details on the outcome of the meeting are awaited. All members of the Collegium -- Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, participated in the deliberations. The decision to convene the meeting was taken late last evening by the CJI. It is pertinent to mention that Justice J Chelameswar, the senior-most judge of the apex court, had on May 9 written a letter to the CJI urging him to convene the Collegium meet to urgently forward Justice Joseph's name to the Centre. The government had on April 26 returned the Collegium's recommendation to elevate Justice Joseph seeking its reconsideration, saying the proposal was not in accordance with the top court's parameters and there was adequate representation of Kerala in the higher judiciary from where he hails. It had also questioned his seniority for elevation as a judge of the apex court. According to an apex court official, Justice Chelameswar, in his letter sent to the CJI, had conveyed that he was reiterating his decision favaouring elevation of Justice Joseph as the judge of the top court as there was no change in the circumstances that had led the Collegium to recommend his name to the government on January 10. It is also learnt that Justice Chelameswar, who retires on June 22, has responded to all the points raised in the communication to the CJI by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad expressing reservations on the elevation of Justice Joseph. The meeting of the Collegium was expected to take place on May 9 but Justice Chelameswar was on leave. Justice Kurian Joseph, during his visit to Kerala last week, had also reportedly made it clear that he was in favour of reiterating the recommendation of the Collegium on the issue concerning the Uttarakhand Chief Justice.

Meeting of collegium to decide on Justice Joseph's elevation to SC ends, decision awaited

The collegium met Wednesday but deferred its decision on reconsidering the name of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph for elevation to the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

Justice Joseph's name had been recommended by the collegium in January.&nbsp;It was recently <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-asks-collegium-to-reconsider-elevation-of-justice-km-joseph-to-supreme-court-sources-132958">returned by the government</a> for reconsideration.&nbsp;

The government says Kerala, from where Justice Joseph hails, is already well-represented in the higher judiciary.

The government has also pointed to Joseph's lack of seniority. There are 44 high court judges more senior than him.&nbsp;

Commentators however have pointed out that Joseph had headed the Uttarakhand high court bench that had in 2016 overturned the Modi government's decision to impose President's rule in Uttarakhand, allowing the state's Congress government to return to power.

&nbsp;All five judges of the collegium — Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph — were at Wednesday's meeting.

The justices reportedly discussed threadbare Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's letter saying the government would like the collegium to reconsider its recommendation of Justice Joseph.&nbsp;

Most commentators have said the collegium will in all likelihood send its recommendation of Justice Joseph's name for promotion to the Supreme Court back to the government. And in which case, the government will have no choice but to accept the recommendation.&nbsp;

CJI Dipak Misra however had last week said the government was well within its rights to send back Justice Joseph's name for reconsideration.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Wednesday, news reports quoted Law Minister Prasad as rejecting suggestions that the government was obstructing Justice Joseph's appointment as an SC judge because he had overturned the imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand.

"It has nothing to do with that at all," the reports quoted Prasad as saying.

He also accused the Congress of levelling "sponsored allegations" against the NDA government.&nbsp;

Justice Joseph's name had been recommended by the collegium in January. It was recently returned by the government for reconsideration

The collegium met Wednesday but deferred its decision on reconsidering the name of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph for elevation to the Supreme Court. Justice Joseph's name had been recommended by the collegium in January. It was recently returned by the government for reconsideration. The government says Kerala, from where Justice Joseph hails, is already well-represented in the higher judiciary. The government has also pointed to Joseph's lack of seniority. There are 44 high court judges more senior than him. Commentators however have pointed out that Joseph had headed the Uttarakhand high court bench that had in 2016 overturned the Modi government's decision to impose President's rule in Uttarakhand, allowing the state's Congress government to return to power. All five judges of the collegium — Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph — were at Wednesday's meeting. The justices reportedly discussed threadbare Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's letter saying the government would like the collegium to reconsider its recommendation of Justice Joseph. Most commentators have said the collegium will in all likelihood send its recommendation of Justice Joseph's name for promotion to the Supreme Court back to the government. And in which case, the government will have no choice but to accept the recommendation. CJI Dipak Misra however had last week said the government was well within its rights to send back Justice Joseph's name for reconsideration. On Wednesday, news reports quoted Law Minister Prasad as rejecting suggestions that the government was obstructing Justice Joseph's appointment as an SC judge because he had overturned the imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand. "It has nothing to do with that at all," the reports quoted Prasad as saying. He also accused the Congress of levelling "sponsored allegations" against the NDA government.

Collegium meets, but defers decision on Justice Joseph's elevation to Supreme Court

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/a-new-history-starts-now-as-leaders-of-two-koreas-begin-summit-133112">'A new history starts now' as leaders of two Koreas begin </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/a-new-history-starts-now-as-leaders-of-two-koreas-begin-summit-133112">summit</a>

Smiling and holding hands, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between the countries on Friday in the first summit for the two Koreas in over a decade.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-xi-informal-summit-from-walk-to-boat-ride-what-all-to-expect-133087">PM Modi-Xi informal summit: From </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-xi-informal-summit-from-walk-to-boat-ride-what-all-to-expect-133087">walk</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-xi-informal-summit-from-walk-to-boat-ride-what-all-to-expect-133087"> to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-xi-informal-summit-from-walk-to-boat-ride-what-all-to-expect-133087">boat</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-xi-informal-summit-from-walk-to-boat-ride-what-all-to-expect-133087"> ride, what all to expect</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at picturesque Wuhan city in Central China, at 12:30 am on Friday, ahead of his much anticipated informal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-returns-recommendation-to-collegium-on-elevation-of-justice-k-m-joseph-133109">Government returns recommendation on </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-returns-recommendation-to-collegium-on-elevation-of-justice-k-m-joseph-133109">elevation</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-returns-recommendation-to-collegium-on-elevation-of-justice-k-m-joseph-133109"> of Justice K M Joseph</a>

Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K M Joseph , who headed the bench that had quashed the Narendra Modi government's decision to impose President's rule in the Congress-ruled hill state in 2016, was not considered to be elevated as a Supreme Court judge by the Centre today.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/govt-wants-to-appoint-own-people-in-higher-judiciary-congress-133115">Government</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/govt-wants-to-appoint-own-people-in-higher-judiciary-congress-133115"> wants to appoint 'own people' in higher judiciary: Congress</a>

The Congress on Thursday accused the government of seeking to appoint its "own people" in higher judiciary and claimed that the independence of the judiciary was in "danger" after the Centre turned down a Supreme Court collegium proposal to elevate Justice K M Joseph to the top court.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/an-age-of-peace-from-the-starting-point-of-history-kim-writes-in-the-guestbook-133119">'An age of peace, from the starting point of history,' Kim writes in </a><a class="gr-progress" href="http://www.wionews.com/world/an-age-of-peace-from-the-starting-point-of-history-kim-writes-in-the-guestbook-133119">guestbook</a>

When the two Korean leaders met earlier today, ahead of the historic summit, they were all smiles and niceties. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in were spotted holding hands at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between the countries on Friday.

'A new history starts now' as leaders of two Koreas begin summit Smiling and holding hands, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between the countries on Friday in the first summit for the two Koreas in over a decade. PM Modi-Xi informal summit: From walk to boat ride, what all to expect Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at picturesque Wuhan city in Central China, at 12:30 am on Friday, ahead of his much anticipated informal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Government returns recommendation on elevation of Justice K M Joseph Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K M Joseph , who headed the bench that had quashed the Narendra Modi government's decision to impose President's rule in the Congress-ruled hill state in 2016, was not considered to be elevated as a Supreme Court judge by the Centre today. Government wants to appoint 'own people' in higher judiciary: Congress The Congress on Thursday accused the government of seeking to appoint its "own people" in higher judiciary and claimed that the independence of the judiciary was in "danger" after the Centre turned down a Supreme Court collegium proposal to elevate Justice K M Joseph to the top court. 'An age of peace, from the starting point of history,' Kim writes in guestbook When the two Korean leaders met earlier today, ahead of the historic summit, they were all smiles and niceties. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in were spotted holding hands at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between the countries on Friday.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Senior advocate<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-asks-collegium-to-reconsider-elevation-of-justice-km-joseph-to-supreme-court-sources-132958"> Indu Malhotra has been officially</a> appointed judge of the Supreme Court of India.

The government had earlier cleared the file of the judge to elevate her to the top court.

Justice KM Joseph, the current Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court was the other name recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium.

The government has asked the Supreme Court collegium to reconsider its recommendation for elevating Justice K M Joseph to the apex court which the Supreme Court Bar Association President termed as "disturbing"

Malhotra is the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a judge in India's highest court and the seventh woman judge since India's independence.

Joseph's elevation has gained political undertones with th Congress accusing PM Modi of indulging in "revenge politics" by "refusing" to clear the country's most senior chief justice, K M Joseph, to the Supreme Court.

On January 22, the apex court collegium's file had recommended the elevation of Justice Joseph and Malhotra to the Law Ministry.

After processing the file in the first week of February, the recommendations were kept in abeyance as the government wanted to elevate only Malhotra.

The government felt that while recommending the name of Justice Joseph, the collegium has "disregarded seniority and regional representation" since he is 42nd in the seniority list of 669 high court judges.

(With PTI inputs)

On January 22, the apex court collegium's file had recommended the elevation of Justice Joseph and Malhotra to the Law Ministry

Senior advocate Indu Malhotra has been officially appointed judge of the Supreme Court of India. The government had earlier cleared the file of the judge to elevate her to the top court. Justice KM Joseph, the current Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court was the other name recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium. The government has asked the Supreme Court collegium to reconsider its recommendation for elevating Justice K M Joseph to the apex court which the Supreme Court Bar Association President termed as "disturbing" Malhotra is the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a judge in India's highest court and the seventh woman judge since India's independence. Joseph's elevation has gained political undertones with th Congress accusing PM Modi of indulging in "revenge politics" by "refusing" to clear the country's most senior chief justice, K M Joseph, to the Supreme Court. On January 22, the apex court collegium's file had recommended the elevation of Justice Joseph and Malhotra to the Law Ministry. After processing the file in the first week of February, the recommendations were kept in abeyance as the government wanted to elevate only Malhotra. The government felt that while recommending the name of Justice Joseph, the collegium has "disregarded seniority and regional representation" since he is 42nd in the seniority list of 669 high court judges. (With PTI inputs)

Advocate Indu Malhotra officially appointed Supreme Court Judge

The government has asked the collegium to reconsider the elevation of Justice KM Joseph to the Supreme Court, PTI has reported government sources as saying.&nbsp;

Joseph is currently Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court.&nbsp;

The Centre's decision to not clear Joseph's nomination as a Supreme Court judge is expected to set up a massive confrontation between the government and the judiciary.&nbsp;

The government had so far been sitting on Joseph's nomination along with that of Indu Malhotra's. Both names were recommended in January.&nbsp;

Malhotra's name however was cleared yesterday, making her the first woman to directly go from being a lawyer to a Supreme Court judge.&nbsp;

In a ruling in 2016, Justice Joseph had cancelled President's rule in Uttarakhand and brought back the Congress government of Harish Rawat to power. The judgement was seen as major set back to the BJP-ruled government at the Centre.

The government's decision of not approving Joseph's name has evoked sharp reactions with the Supreme Court Bar Association President terming it as "disturbing". 
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wrote to Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra this morning requesting the collegium, a group of five senior-most judges that selects judges for the apex court, to reconsider its decision on recommending Justice Joseph to be a judge of the top court.

Prasad also informed the CJI that senior advocate Malhotra has today been appointed a judge of the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

The Centre's decision to not clear Joseph's — he is currently Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court — nomination as a Supreme Court judge is expected to set up a massive confrontation between the government and the judiciary

The government has asked the collegium to reconsider the elevation of Justice KM Joseph to the Supreme Court, PTI has reported government sources as saying. Joseph is currently Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. The Centre's decision to not clear Joseph's nomination as a Supreme Court judge is expected to set up a massive confrontation between the government and the judiciary. The government had so far been sitting on Joseph's nomination along with that of Indu Malhotra's. Both names were recommended in January. Malhotra's name however was cleared yesterday, making her the first woman to directly go from being a lawyer to a Supreme Court judge. In a ruling in 2016, Justice Joseph had cancelled President's rule in Uttarakhand and brought back the Congress government of Harish Rawat to power. The judgement was seen as major set back to the BJP-ruled government at the Centre. The government's decision of not approving Joseph's name has evoked sharp reactions with the Supreme Court Bar Association President terming it as "disturbing". Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wrote to Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra this morning requesting the collegium, a group of five senior-most judges that selects judges for the apex court, to reconsider its decision on recommending Justice Joseph to be a judge of the top court. Prasad also informed the CJI that senior advocate Malhotra has today been appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. (With inputs from PTI)

Government asks collegium to reconsider elevation of Justice KM Joseph to Supreme Court: Sources