Judgments of Addl Judges of the HCs to be evaluated by Committee

The Supreme Court Collegium had unanimously taken a decision on  March 3, 2017 to withdraw with immediate effect last sentence of guideline No.2 issued by the then Chief Justice of India on  October 30, 2010, regarding constitution of Judgment Committee by Chief Justices of High Courts for assessment / evaluation of judgments of Additional Judges of High Courts for purpose of determining their suitability for appointment as Permanent Judges. The decision was communicated to the Minister for Law & Justice by the then Chief Justice of India by DO letter No. CC/HC/2017/2251A dated April 16, 2017.

In this regard, the Minister for Law and Justice has, on  June 6, 2017, made certain suggestions pertaining to appointment of three Additional Judges as Permanent Judges in Chhattisgarh High Court.

Regard being had to the necessity of assessment of judgments and also bearing in mind the principle that peers should not be judged by peers, the Collegium in partial modification of its earlier decision taken on  March 3, 2017 has decided that the judgments of Additional Judges of the High Courts shall be called for from the Chief Justices of the concerned High Courts and the same shall be evaluated by the Committee of two Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court, other than consultee-Judges, to be nominated by the Chief Justice of India.