Justice Kureshi : SC To Keep GHCAA Petition Pending Till Centre Issues Notification On Collegium Proposal

The Supreme Court on Monday accepted the submission made by Senior Advocate Aravind Datar to keep the petition filed by Gujarat High Court Advocates Association pending till the Centre notifies Justice Kureshi's appointment.

"We accept Sr Adv Arvind Datar's submission to keep the matter pending", the CJI-led bench said, while directing the Registry to list the matter after Centre issues notification on the Collegium proposal.

"Matters of appointments, transfers go to root of the administration of justice. Judicial review in such cases is severely restricted. Interference in system of administration of justice does not augur well for the institution", the CJI said.

Last Friday, the SC had published the September 5 resolution of the Collegium to recommend Justice Kureshi as the Chief Justice of Tripura High Court, modifying the earlier recommendation made on May 10 to elevate him as the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The GHCAA filed the petition in SC seeking directions to the Centre to notify the May 10 proposal without delay. The Association, which had earlier passed a unanimous resolution to support the elevation of Justice Kureshi, said that the Centre was selectively blocking his appointment. The other recommendations made by the Collegium on May 10 and also later were promptly notified by the Centre, the Association pointed out.

Justice Kureshi, a senior judge of the Gujarat High Court, was transferred to Bombay High Court last October, amidst protests from the GHCAA.