SC collegium agrees to reiterate Justice KM Joseph's elevation to apex court

Justice Joseph had headed the bench in the Uttarakhand High Court that had quashed the Narendra Modi government's decision to impose President's rule in the Congress-ruled state in 2016. 

The government had returned Justice Joseph's name, while approving designated senior advocate Indu Malhotra's elevation, prompting commentators to accuse the government of vindictiveness.

Malhotra has joined the bench of the top court.

After an hour-long deliberation today, the five-member Collegium, comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and the five senior-most judges of the court — Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph — unanimously decided that Justice Joseph's name should be accompanied with the recommendation of names of other chief justices of high courts for elevation as judges of the Supreme Court.

"The Chief Justice and other members of the Collegium have, on principle, unanimously agreed that the recommendation for appointment of Mr. Justice K.M. Joseph, Chief Justice, Uttarakhand High Court as a Judge of the Supreme Court should be reiterated," the collegium resolution said. 

However, the reiteration should also be accompanied by the recommendation of the names of chief justices of high courts for elevation as judges of the Supreme Court, for which detailed discussion is required, it said. 

The Collegium will meet again on 16 May to discuss the matter.