The Supreme Court ruled that High Court judges must adhere to jurisdiction assigned by the Chief Justice, prohibiting them from reclassifying petitions without consent. In a case concerning the dismissal of a writ petition, the Court upheld this authority, emphasizing that jurisdictional assignment is crucial for judges when hearing cases.
Justice Hima Kohli, at a commemorative event for “100 Years of Women in Law in India,” highlighted the lack of female Attorney General and Solicitor General appointments in 75 years, emphasizing ongoing gender bias. She identified barriers like work-life balance issues, stereotypes, and limited opportunities, calling for reforms to empower women in the legal field.
The Bar Council of India urged Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud to reform courtroom decorum in High Courts, citing unacceptable judicial behavior towards advocates. The letter emphasized implementing a clear code of conduct for judges, psychological evaluations, and addressing concerns over the unauthorized circulation of court proceedings, which undermine judicial integrity.
Alok Kumar, VHP President, criticized the Law Ministry for publicizing a private judges’ meeting. He clarified that only retired judges attended the closed-door event. The gathering focused on various societal issues, including the Waqf Bill and temple-related matters. The public disclosure raised concerns about event confidentiality. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal’s participation stirred a Twitter debate.
The Supreme Court of India appointed eight retired High Court judges as Senior Advocates, emphasizing their notable legal careers and contributions to the judiciary. The decision, made during a full court meeting, reflects the Court’s commitment to recognizing exemplary service. Additionally, 39 lawyers, including 10 women, were also designated as Senior Advocates on the same day.
The Supreme Court today urged the Centre to address the meager pensions for district judges, citing concerns for their welfare. The Attorney General and Solicitor General were requested to collaborate with the amicus curiae to find a solution. The bench postponed the hearing to address pension-related concerns and highlighted the delay in implementing uniform service conditions for judicial officers.
The Union Law Ministry informed the Lok Sabha that 38 candidates from SC, ST, OBC, and BC are being considered for High Court judgeships. Among the 205 pending recommendations by High Court Collegiums, 16.8% have been from these backgrounds since 2018. The government’s stance on approving candidates based on social media activity remains vague.
On Wednesday(24th July),The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended a fresh one-year term for nine additional judges of the Calcutta High Court, starting August 31, 2024, instead of making their appointments permanent. The judges include Justices Biswaroop Chowdhury, Partha Sarathi Sen, Prasenjit Biswas, Uday Kumar, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Supratim Bhattacharya, Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, Apurba Sinha Ray, and Md Shabbar Rashidi.
Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh bid farewell to Jammu and Kashmir High Court and expressed hope for a Ladakh Bench. He praised the people of Ladakh and emphasized the need for a circuit bench in the region. Justice Singh was content with government interest in the initiative and thanked various individuals and institutions for their support during his tenure.
Today(on 9th July),The Supreme Court reprimanded advocate Ashok Pandey for not depositing a Rs 50,000 fine for filing a “meritless” plea and directed him to pay within two weeks. Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih rejected Pandey’s request for more time, despite his claim of filing petitions in support of former CJI Dipak Misra in 2018 during allegations against Misra.