Breaking: Collegium Modifies It’s Decision To Do Away With Professional Evaluation Of Addl. Judges; Two SC Judges Will Evaluate The Judgments

The Supreme Court collegium has decided to modify it's decision to do away with the professional evaluation of  Additional High Court Judges for purpose of determining their suitability for appointment as Permanent Judges. The Collegium has now decided that two Supreme Court Judges will evaluate the Judgments of Additional High Court Judges.

The Collegium in partial modification of its earlier decision, has decided that the judgments of Additional Judges of the High Courts shall be called for from the Chief Justices of the concerned High Courts and the same shall be evaluated by the Committee of two Judges of the Supreme Court, other than consultee-Judges, to be nominated by the Chief Justice of India.

This decision was taken unanimously by the Collegium members in the meeting held on 26.10.2017.

It was earlier reported that the collegium decided to do away with the professional evaluation of additional judges while recommending their name for promotion as permanent judge.

 “The Collegium had unanimously taken a decision on 3rd March, 2017 to withdraw with immediate effect last sentence of guideline No.2 issued by the then Chief Justice of India on 30th October, 2010, regarding constitution of Judgment Committee by Chief Justices of High Courts for assessment / evaluation of judgments of Additional Judges of High Courts for purpose of determining their suitability for appointment as Permanent Judges. The decision was communicated to the Minister for Law & Justice by the then Chief Justice of India by DO letter No. CC/HC/2017/2251A dated April 16, 2017”.

The Minister for Law and Justice on 6^th  June, 2017 had made certain suggestions pertaining to appointment of three Additional Judges as Permanent Judges in Chhattisgarh High Court. After considering the suggestions the Collegium took the decision as follws;

“Regard being had to the necessity of assessment of judgments and also bearing in mind the principle that peers should not be judged by peers, the Collegium in partial modification of its earlier decision taken on 3rd March, 2017 has decided that the judgments of Additional Judges of the High Courts shall be called for from the Chief Justices of the concerned High Courts and the same shall be evaluated by the Committee of two Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court, other than consultee-Judges, to be nominated by the Chief Justice of India”