The Supreme Court Collegium Wednesday again deferred its decision on the issue of recommending Uttarakhand Chief Justice KM Joseph for elevation to the top court after it was returned by the Centre. An apex court official said that no decision has been taken as to when the recommendation will be sent to the Centre.

The Collegium comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and four senior most judges — justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph — deliberated for more than an hour.

Official details on the outcome of the meeting were awaited. This was the Collegium's second meeting in five days.

At its last meeting on May 11, the Collegium had agreed in principle to reiterate its recommendation for elevating Justice Joseph as a judge of the apex court, almost three weeks after it was returned by the Centre, but could not decide on a date.

It had then adopted a resolution which stated that there was a need for further discussion on the issue of sending the other names of judges to the Centre and had decided to meet again today.

"The Chief Justice and other members of the Collegium have, on principle, unanimously agreed that the recommendation for appointment of Justice K M Joseph, Chief Justice, Uttarakhand High Court (Parent High Court: Kerala)as a Judge of the Supreme Court should be reiterated.

"However, the said reiteration should also be accompanied by the recommendation of the names of Chief Justices of High Courts for elevation as Judges of the Supreme Court, for which detailed discussion is required," the resolution of May 11 had said.

It had also decided to consider the names of other High Court Judges for elevation as Judges of the Supreme Court.

Official sources said those high court judges who are in the race to be elevated to the apex court are Chief Justice of Madras High Court Indira Banerjee, who is originally from the Calcutta HC, Gujarat HC Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy, whose parent cadre is Telangana and Andhra Pradesh HC, and Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, who is originally from Rajasthan HC.

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.

The Collegium has recommended the name of Additional Judge Justice Ramchandra Singh Jhala to be appointed as a permanent judge of the Rajasthan High Court.

"Taking into consideration the material on record, the Collegium finds Justice Ramchandra Singh Jhala, Additional Judge, suitable for being appointed as Permanent Judge (of the Rajasthan High Court).

"In view of the above, the Collegium resolves to recommend, for the present, that Justice Ramchandra Singh Jhala, Additional Judge be appointed as Permanent Judge of the Rajasthan High Court against one of the existing vacancies," its resolution said.

The collegium, comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and the four most senior SC judges — Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Kurian Joseph — deliberated on the issue for more than an hour. This was their second meeting in 5 days

The Supreme Court Collegium Wednesday again deferred its decision on the issue of recommending Uttarakhand Chief Justice KM Joseph for elevation to the top court after it was returned by the Centre. An apex court official said that no decision has been taken as to when the recommendation will be sent to the Centre. The Collegium comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and four senior most judges — justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph — deliberated for more than an hour. Official details on the outcome of the meeting were awaited. This was the Collegium's second meeting in five days. At its last meeting on May 11, the Collegium had agreed in principle to reiterate its recommendation for elevating Justice Joseph as a judge of the apex court, almost three weeks after it was returned by the Centre, but could not decide on a date. It had then adopted a resolution which stated that there was a need for further discussion on the issue of sending the other names of judges to the Centre and had decided to meet again today. "The Chief Justice and other members of the Collegium have, on principle, unanimously agreed that the recommendation for appointment of Justice K M Joseph, Chief Justice, Uttarakhand High Court (Parent High Court: Kerala)as a Judge of the Supreme Court should be reiterated. "However, the said reiteration should also be accompanied by the recommendation of the names of Chief Justices of High Courts for elevation as Judges of the Supreme Court, for which detailed discussion is required," the resolution of May 11 had said. It had also decided to consider the names of other High Court Judges for elevation as Judges of the Supreme Court. Official sources said those high court judges who are in the race to be elevated to the apex court are Chief Justice of Madras High Court Indira Banerjee, who is originally from the Calcutta HC, Gujarat HC Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy, whose parent cadre is Telangana and Andhra Pradesh HC, and Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, who is originally from Rajasthan HC. 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. The Collegium has recommended the name of Additional Judge Justice Ramchandra Singh Jhala to be appointed as a permanent judge of the Rajasthan High Court. "Taking into consideration the material on record, the Collegium finds Justice Ramchandra Singh Jhala, Additional Judge, suitable for being appointed as Permanent Judge (of the Rajasthan High Court). "In view of the above, the Collegium resolves to recommend, for the present, that Justice Ramchandra Singh Jhala, Additional Judge be appointed as Permanent Judge of the Rajasthan High Court against one of the existing vacancies," its resolution said.

Collegium again defers decision on Justice KM Joseph's elevation to Supreme Court

Collegium again defers decision on Justice Joseph's elevation to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court collegium has unanimously agreed to send its nomination of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph for elevation to the Supreme Court back to the Centre.&nbsp

The collegium had met today to discuss the issue after the Centre sent Justice Joseph's name back to the collegium on April 26 for reconsideration.&nbsp

The Centre's contention was that Kerala, where Justice Joseph hails from, is already adequately represented in the higher judiciary. And that Justice Joseph is not senior enough to be elevated to the Supreme Court.&nbsp

Justice Joseph is currently 41st in terms of seniority among high court judges.&nbsp

PTI reported earlier that the collegium deliberated on the issue for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/collegium-meet-to-decide-on-justice-josephs-elevation-to-sc-concludes-decision-awaited-136113">close to an hour</a>.&nbsp

All the members of the collegium — Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Kurian Joseph — were present at Friday's meeting.&nbsp

The decision to convene the meeting was taken late last evening by the CJI Misra.&nbsp

Justice Chelameswar, the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court, had written to CJI Misra yesterday urging him to convene the meeting and to also send the collegium's nomination of Justice KM Joseph's back to the Centre.&nbsp

PTI reported that in his letter, Justice Chelameswar told the CJI that he was reiterating his decision favouring the elevation of Justice Joseph as a 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.

PTI added that Justice Chelameswar, who retires on June 22, had in his letter responded to all the points raised by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad when he sent back Justice Joseph's name to the collegium for reconsideration.&nbsp

(With inputs from PTI)

The Centre had sent Justice Joseph's name back to the collegium on April 26 for reconsideration. The collegium, which met today, reportedly deliberated on the issue for close to an hour

The Supreme Court collegium has unanimously agreed to send its nomination of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph for elevation to the Supreme Court back to the Centre. The collegium had met today to discuss the issue after the Centre sent Justice Joseph's name back to the collegium on April 26 for reconsideration. The Centre's contention was that Kerala, where Justice Joseph hails from, is already adequately represented in the higher judiciary. And that Justice Joseph is not senior enough to be elevated to the Supreme Court. Justice Joseph is currently 41st in terms of seniority among high court judges. PTI reported earlier that the collegium deliberated on the issue for close to an hour. All the members of the collegium — Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur and Kurian Joseph — were present at Friday's meeting. The decision to convene the meeting was taken late last evening by the CJI Misra. Justice Chelameswar, the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court, had written to CJI Misra yesterday urging him to convene the meeting and to also send the collegium's nomination of Justice KM Joseph's back to the Centre. PTI reported that in his letter, Justice Chelameswar told the CJI that he was reiterating his decision favouring the elevation of Justice Joseph as a 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. PTI added that Justice Chelameswar, who retires on June 22, had in his letter responded to all the points raised by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad when he sent back Justice Joseph's name to the collegium for reconsideration. (With inputs from PTI)

Collegium agrees unanimously to send Justice KM Joseph's name for elevation to SC back to Centre