SC refuses to stay warrant of appointment of Indu Malhotra

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stay the Presidential Warrant appointing senior woman lawyer Indu Malhotra as a judge of the apex court.

The top court termed the plea of advocates as "unimaginable, unthinkable, unconscionable and never heard before."

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Dipak Misra took strong note of submission of senior advocate Indira Jaising that Indu be not sworn in as the apex court judge and the Centre be directed to recommend the name of Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court Justice K M Joseph as well.

"What kind of prayer is this," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said, adding that the Centre is "well within its right to send back the recommendation for reconsideration."

"Supposing the government is sending it for reconsideration, it will be seen. You are saying 'stay the warrant.' It is unthinkable, unconscionable, unimaginable and if I may add 'never heard before'," the CJI said.

Indira referred to the Centre's decision of segregating the name of Justice Joseph and Indu and said it cannot be done and either both names should have been recommended or rejected.

"Constitutional propriety demands that the warrant of appointment of Indu Malhotra be implemented," the bench said.

The top court said that it is surprising that a member of a Bar is being appointed as a judge and lawyers are mentioning at 2 pm for a stay on Warrant of Appointment.

Indira said that she is not pressing the prayer for a stay on the Warrant of Appointment and wants the larger issue of "cherry picking" of judges to be dealt by the court.

She urged the court to direct listing of the matter urgently and said, "We are worried about the independence of the judiciary."

The bench refused to list the matter urgently and said it will come in due course of time.

Over 100 Supreme Court Bar Association members had mentioned the plea alleging that the Centre was interfering with the administration and independence of the judiciary by selectively acting upon the Collegium's recommendation for appointment in the Supreme Court.