AMN /
The Centre today told the Supreme Court that it has cleared 34 names out of the 77 recommended by the collegium for appointment as judges in various high courts in the country.
The government also apprised the bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur that as of now no file with regard to the recommendations for appointment as judges is pending with it.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said, the Centre has already sent the fresh draft Memorandum of Procedure, MoP for consideration of the collegium on August 3, this year, but so far no response has been received by the government.
The bench then said that it would convene a meeting of the collegium, which comprises four senior judges besides CJI, on November 15. It has now fixed the PIL filed by 1971 war veteran Lieutenant Colonel Anil Kabotra, a former Army official, on the issue for further hearing on November 19.
The apex court had earlier rapped the government for delay in appointments to higher judiciary despite recommendations made by the collegium in this regard and had said the entire institution cannot be brought to a grinding halt.