No progress can be made unless judiciary is efficient, CJI Khehar on Central Selection Mechanism

Senior Advocate Arvind Datar today submitted a concept note to the Supreme Court regarding evolving a Central Selection Mechanism for the subordinate judiciary..This was pursuant to a direction in the suo motu case initiated by the apex court regarding the same..The Court directed that the concept note be served to all high courts and states so that they can submit their suggestions/objections to the same..The case is being heard by a Bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justices AK Goel and AM Khanwilkar..When the matter came up for hearing today, Datar placed the concept note on record..The Calcutta High Court, however, again raised concerns about the proposal. Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the High Court, said that the proposal has been placed before the High Court and that they are awaiting instructions..Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay then raised a series of concerns regarding whether this would amount to interference with the autonomy of states and violation of federal structure..“Your Lordships are evolving this idea because vacancies are not being filled up. But in Calcutta High Court there are many vacancies. Whose fault is that?”.Justice Khehar, however, responded by saying that the proposal is being envisaged for the benefit of the nation. He said,.“We are trying to do a service to the nation. No progress can be made unless judiciary is efficient. No foreign investor will invest here is he knows he will be stuck in a court in this country for 15 years.”.Justice Khehar also assured that there will be no interference with state Rules or syllabus..“This is not All India Judicial Services, no. We wont interfere with the syllabus of the State or Rules or anything.”.The Court then ordered that the concept note submitted by Datar be sent to Registrar Generals of all high courts and Secretaries of Law Ministries of all states..The concept note will also be published on the Supreme Court website. Anybody desirous of making suggestions can send their suggestions to the High Courts. The high courts and states have to forward their suggestions to the Supreme Court on or before August 16..The case is now listed for hearing on August 18..Read concept note below.