Post Thakur, Judiciary-Govt Confrontation Is Easing, SC Gets Five New Judges

Since last chief justice TS Thakur has retired, the tension between the judiciary and the centre is easing. The new CJI Justice JS Khehar seems to be in a mood to get things done rather than getting entangled in unnecessary controversies.

As a result, the most contentious issue of appointment of judges to the Supreme Court is also getting resolved. Five new judges today took oath in the Supreme Court, taking the apex court’s working strength to 28.

Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Navin Sinha, Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Dipak Gupta, Kerala High Court Chief Justice Mohan M. Shantanagouder and Karnataka High Court judge Justice Abdul Nazeer was today sworn-in as apex court judges by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar.

However, the apex court is still three short of its sanctioned strength of 31. President Pranab Mukherjee had signed the Warrants of Appointment for the five judges earlier this week. Chief Justice of India Khehar, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant are due to retire later this year.

As this Swarajya column noted, another evidence from the Khehar court about its readiness to get on with business and avoid needless diatribes against the executive or humouring frivolous PIL-sters came earlier this week. The CJI announced in open court that it would come up with an agreed Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for the selection of judges within a month. While his predecessor was making threats to get the government to agree on the MoP, CJI Khehar seems to have worked the backroom circuit to set things right.

Also read: CJI Khehar Is Leaving The Patchy Legacy Of His Predecessor Thakur Behind