Chief Justice Of Hcs Supreme In Appointing Judicial Officers

The Supreme Court yesterday asserted the supremacy of the chief justice of the high court in the matter of appointment of judicial officers in the court. It declared in strong terms that other judges have no power in this field under the constitutional scheme.

Some judges, undoubtedly, will become chief justice in their own turn one day, but it is imperative under the constitutional discipline that they work in tranquility, the apex court explained, adding, judges have been described as hermits. They have to live and behave like hermits who have no desire or aspirations, having shed it through penance.

Their mission is to supply light and not heat. This is necessary so that their latent desire to run the high court administration may not sprout before time, at least, in some cases.

The Supreme Court made these remarks in an unprecedented situation when the Rajasthan High Court appealed to the apex court against the order of a division bench of the high court regarding the appointment of the courts registrars.

The high court bench had asked the registrar to place a detailed report on the appointments made to the top posts in the registry before the full court.

The high court appealed to the Supreme Court against this order. The Supreme Court set aside the high court order enquiring to the appointments of the registry officials, stating that it was the constitutional privilege of the chief justice and none others.