NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao is in a fix over the move to appoint Jeevan Reddy Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court to the Supreme Court 4s this would mean inducting three Judges in the highest court from Andhra Pradesh the home state Of the PM. The convention is to have not more than two judges from one state.
The name of Jeevan Reddy has been sent to the PMO by the Chief Justice of India Ranganath Mann along with those of J.Mohan and Ray Chief Justices of Karnataka and Gujarat High Courts respectively for elevation to the Supreme Court. What appears to have alerted the Prime Minister if the strong reaction from several Chief justices of high courts expressed in course of their three day conference in the capital recently. Though the matter did not come up for any discussion officially the chief justices met in groups separately and voiced their Opposition to such a move.
In fact during group meetings the chief justices took exception to the manner of appointments in the higher judiciary where political influence was often made to play a key role. In this context one of the chief justices pointed out how two members of the same family were recently appointed judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
It is learnt that because of Justice Jeevan Reddy the Prime Minister is delaying clearance of other two names Justice Mohanand Justice Ray. Those who are pressing the case of Justice Reddy have pleaded that his appointment to the Supreme Court be treated from the Allahabad High Court quota.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 27, 1991
