HC orders status quo on selection process of additional judges

Madras High Court today ordered the Centre to maintain status quo on the selection process for appointment of 12 additional judges to the court.
A special division bench comprising justices V Dhanapalan and K K Sasidharan passed the interim order on a PIL seeking withdrawal of the list of 12 names recommended by the collegium of judges in the high court.
The PIL filed by advocate R Gandhi sought sending back the list of 12 candidates, out of which 10 are from the Bar.
The special bench, constituted today by Chief Justice R K Agrawal after another bench, comprising justices S Rajeswsaran and P N Prakash recused itself, directed the central government to maintain status quo.

Earlier, in his arguments advocate S Prabhakaran submitted that the list was sent without due consultation and certain sections of the society were not given representation while some others had been given over representation.
During the hearing of the PIL in the morning session, a flutter was created when Justice C S Karnan entered the jampacked court hall and told the court that the selection was not fair.

"This selection is not fair. I will file an affidavit against it in my own name. I am also a part of judiciary. Please note it down," Justice Karnan said and walked out of the court hall even before the special bench could react.

The Madras High Court Advocates Association, which had announced a boycott of court proceedings today protesting the list, allowed only this PIL to be heard.
The Justice Karnan incident unfolded barely moments after Justice Dhanapalan expressed anger over the conduct of some MHAA advocates who had allegedly barged into his court and raised slogans in the morning.