In a fresh face-off between the Supreme Court and the Central government, the top court expressed displeasure over delay by the executive in the higher judicial appointment process.
A two-judge bench reportedly said that keeping names pending for appointment despite reiteration by the Supreme Court Collegium is "not acceptable".
Justices S K Kaul and A S Oka said that the court had earlier clarified that once the government has expressed its reservation and that has been dealt with by the Collegium, only the appointment has to take place after the second reiteration.
The Supreme Court said that the method of "keeping names on hold whether duly recommended or reiterated is becoming some sort of a device to compel these persons to withdraw their names", and this has happened in the past.
A notice was also issued to Central government officials over a petition alleging "wilful disobedience" of the time-frame laid down for appointments by the apex court in April 2021.
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