Justice B.V. Nagarathna questioned why an advocate’s past professional income should affect eligibility for appointment as a civil judge during a Supreme Court hearing on Tamil Nadu Judicial Service recruitment. Remarking, “Please tell me, which advocate discloses the true income in his income tax returns?” she drew laughter from lawyers in the courtroom.
The Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition by Himachal Pradesh judicial officer Arvind Malhotra seeking consideration of his name for High Court judge appointment. Malhotra alleged that junior officers were recommended by the Collegium while his candidature was not considered for elevation.
The Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, held an unprecedented meeting in Visakhapatnam to assess candidates for judgeship from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Courts. This marks a significant departure from traditional processes, allowing personal interaction to evaluate candidates’ suitability, while also addressing diversity concerns regarding family connections in judicial appointments.
