Govt Testing Our Patience, Says Supreme Court

Chief Justice NV Ramana; pic courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court took the government to task on Monday over a large number of tribunal vacancies or quasi-judicial bodies, across the country. “We feel the government has no respect for this court” and warned “you (the government) are testing our patience,” Chief Justice NV Ramana was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The government was issued a notice by the court, giving the Centre a week to make the appointments. The matter will again be heard on September 13.

“We are upset… but we don’t want confrontation with the government,” the Chief Justice said, to which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, replied: “Government doesn’t want confrontation either”.

However, the Chief Justice — who attended an event alongside Law Minister Kiren Rijiju yesterday when he spoke about the government quickly approving Supreme Court judges — pressed on and asked: “…but why are tribunal vacancies not being filled?”

“Vacancies in critical tribunals like NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) and NCLAT (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal)… they are important for the economy. Vacancies also in armed forces and consumer tribunals are leading to delays in resolution of cases,” the court said.

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