In Brief
Two senior District and Sessions Judges challenged the High Court of Himachal Pradesh's recommendation of junior officers for elevation without first reconsidering them as directed by the Supreme Court Collegium. The Supreme Court held that the writ petition was maintainable to the limited extent of challenging lack of effective consultation. The Court affirmed that judicial appointments must be decided collectively by the Collegium, not individually by the Chief Justice. The procedure adopted—where only the Chief Justice addressed suitability individually—violated the law requiring collective deliberation. The Court remitted the matter for fresh collective reconsideration by the High Court Collegium in accordance with the Supreme Court's January 2024 direction.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.