Gujarat advocates to file writ on delay in judges’ appointments

AHMEDABAD - A petition is to be filed in the Supreme Court on the delay in appointing judges to the Gujarat High Court, an advocates association said Monday.

Gujarat High Court Advocates Association president Yatin Oza said the association has passed a resolution to this effect. Alleging malafide intention on the part of the union law ministry, he said that the delay was inexcusable.

Against a sanctioned strength of 42 judges, the Gujarat High Court was functioning with only 23, of which one was to retire shortly reducing the strength to virtually half, he said. The Gujarat High Court collegium had recommended eight names in April 2009 and another four names in June 2009.

The Supreme Court had advised the law ministry to make all appointments of judges by April 2010 but to no avail. “It does not take more than six to eight weeks to complete the necessary procedural formalities. Union Law and Justice Minister M.Verappa Moily reportedly sat on the file for three months and the PMO (prime minister’s office) continues to take time,” he said.

“This leads us to believe that this is being done with malafide intent,” Oza added.