Justice Akil Kureshi: Issue likely to be considered by Supreme Court Collegium today

The subject of non-appointment of Justice Akil Kureshi as Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court is likely to be taken up by  Supreme Court Collegium at 1.45 pm today.

When a petition filed by Gujarat High Court Advocates Association came up for hearing today, CJI Ranjan Gogoi stated that the Collegium is meeting at 1.45 pm today.

The Bench which also comprised Justices SA Bobde and S Abdul Nazeer, therefore, deferred the hearing in the petition by one week.

The petition was filed by Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA) taking objection to the Central government’s reluctance to appoint Justice Akil Kureshi as Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court.

In May this year, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended that Justice Kureshi be appointed as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. While various other recommendations made by the Collegium after that were approved by the Centre, the one relating to Justice Akil Kureshi was kept ion cold storage.

The GHCAA, in its petition, has prayed that a direction be issued to the Central government to implement the Collegium resolution of May 10, 2019.

When the matter was heard on August 2, the Central government had told the Supreme Court that it will take a decision on the file relating to Justice Kureshi after the ongoing Parliament session ends. The Court had, therefore, kept the matter pending on the judicial side, and asked the Centre to take a decision before August 14.

On August 28, the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had said that the Court had received a communication from the Law Ministry in the matter pertaining to the appointment of Justice Akil Kureshi as the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court and the same would be placed before the Collegium for its consideration.

[Read Order]