Justice Akil Kureshi appointment: Plea in Supreme Court on judge appointment delay

The Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court, challenging what it claimed was “arbitrary inaction” of the Central government in “withholding” the appointment of Justice Akil Kureshi as Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court despite the Collegium’s recommendation.

The petition, filed by the association’s president, stated, “(The) deliberate inaction of the Respondent in not appointing Justice Akil Kureshi as Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court impinges and diminishes primacy of the judiciary in matters of appointment and transfer of judges to High Court and Supreme Court.”

It called the government’s action an attack on independence of judiciary, as appointment of judges of HCs and Supreme Court is an integral part of judiciary’s independence. The Centre’s action was “not only unreasonable and arbitrary, but also seriously jeopardizes the independence of the judiciary and hence, violates the basic structure of the Constitution of India”, the petition contended.