Telangana, AP Advocates Associations write to CJI for recall of elevation of judicial officers to HC

The Telangana High Court Advocates’ Association and the Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates’ Association have written to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, seeking that the proposed elevations of judicial officers be recalled..In a joint resolution passed by the two lawyers’ bodies, CJI Gogoi is urged to not “consider the list of panel of District Judges sent for elevation by the Andhra Pradesh High Court without appointment of Judges from the Bar“..The request comes against the backdrop of the recommendation made by the Collegium of the Andhra Pradesh High Court for elevation of seven district judges. Apart from these, seven Advocates from the Bar have also been recommended for elevation by the Collegium..However, the two Associations have, in a General Body Meeting held on October 31, 2018, resolved that the panel of district judges under consideration for elevation be “immediately recalled” since “the bifurcation of Judicial Officers is not finalized and notified as per the order passed by the Supreme Court“. The Associations have further objected to the appointment of judges in the ratio of 1:1, as opposed to the advocates to district judges ratio of 2:1..The Associations have further resolved that “the appointment of High Court judges by promotion from the District Judges shall be after elevating the members of the Bar as High Court Judges” and the criteria adopted for elevation of members of Bar with regard to age restriction should also be followed for elevation of the district judges to the High Court by promotion as well..The Associations have also called for “relaxing” the income criteria as well as age restriction adopted for elevation of members from the Bar, since no such criteria is found in the Constitution of India..It is claimed that there have not been “proper appointment and elevation from the Bar since 2010″. As opposed to the elevation of 15 advocates as judges of the High Court, as many as 21 judicial officers have been promoted as High Court judges..“Since 2010 on the ground of agitation among Advocates for bifurcation of States, the Advocates from the bar are denied for representation. However, taking advantage of the said situation, from time to time the elevation for District Judges have been considered in regular basis.”, the Associations iterate..The Associations further question the recommendation to elevate seven judicial officers on the ground that the income and age criteria, which is strictly followed by the Collegium of the High Court, was not adopted and followed by the Collegium in this case..The Telangana High Court’s Advocates’ Association and Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates’ Association, thus prays,.“Therefore, we humbly request your Lordships to kindly look into the seriousness of the matter and pass appropriate orders in the matter and we also request not to consider the list of panel of District Judges sent for elevation without appointment of Judges from the Bar in the interest of Justice.”.Read the Letter: