Supreme Court Mandates Collective Consultation for Judicial Appointments

The Supreme Court has directed the Himachal Pradesh High Court collegium to reconsider the elevation of two senior judges collectively. The apex court emphasized that judicial appointments should involve collaborative consultation, not individual decisions, to ensure transparency. Sensitive information in such matters should be protected to maintain process integrity.

The Supreme Court of India has mandated that judicial appointments to superior courts must be a collective decision rather than an individual prerogative, directing the Himachal Pradesh High Court collegium to reassess the promotion of two senior judges.

A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra emphasized the importance of a collaborative and participatory approach in the elevation process. The court noted that there was no group consultation in the decision to pass over judges Chirag Bhanu Singh and Arvind Malhotra for high court judgeship.

The Supreme Court further highlighted the necessity to balance transparency in judicial appointments with the protection of sensitive information to safeguard individual privacy and process integrity.

(With inputs from agencies.)