New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by a Himachal Pradesh judicial officer, seeking consideration of his name by the high court collegium for elevation as a high court judge.Arvind Malhotra, a principal judge serving at a family court in Dharamshala, had petitioned the apex court last week after SC collegium recently recommended elevation of three judges to the Himachal Pradesh High Court. He alleged that officers junior to him had been recommended for appointment.Refusing to intervene, a vacation bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi on Monday observed that mere seniority does not entitle a judicial officer to elevation."Merely because you are a senior does not mean you will be recommended. Once the collegium discusses, we cannot intervene. There is secrecy involved also," the bench verbally remarked. The bench said SC cannot on the judicial side direct the high court collegium in matters of appointment.
SC refuses to entertain judicial officer's petition seeking elevation
The Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a Himachal Pradesh judicial officer's plea for elevation to the High Court. Arvind Malhotra, a principal judge, argued that junior officers were recommended over him. However, the apex court stated that seniority alone doesn't guarantee promotion, and collegium decisions involve discretion and confidentiality, making judicial intervention inappropriate.
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