Supreme Court Collegium Approves Elevation of 10 Advocates as Judges in Punjab and Haryana High Court

Key Facts

• The Supreme Court Collegium has approved the elevation of 10 advocates as judges at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
• The recommended advocates include Monica Chhibber Sharma, Harmeet Singh Deol, Puja Chopra, Sunish Bindlish, Navdeep Singh, Divya Sharma, Ravinder Malik, Pravindra Singh Chauhan, Rajesh Gaur, and Minderjeet Yadav.
• In a separate resolution, the collegium recommended the elevation of three judicial officers to the Andhra Pradesh High Court: Sunitha Gandham, Alapati Giridhar, and Purushottam Kumar Chintalapudi.
• The collegium system consists of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
• Appointments of High Court judges are made by the President of India under Article 217 of the Constitution after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the Governor of the state, and the Chief Justice of the respective High Court.
• A person is eligible for appointment as a High Court judge if they have at least 10 years of experience as an advocate or have held a judicial office in India for 10 years.
• The Punjab and Haryana High Court has a common jurisdiction over the states of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, functioning from Chandigarh.
• High Courts exercise original, appellate, and writ jurisdiction under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution.

Background & Context

The collegium system arose from judicial interpretations in the Second Judges Case (1993) and the Third Judges Case (1998), which institutionalized a process whereby judicial appointments are primarily handled within the judiciary to preserve judicial independence. Although Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution provide the constitutional provisions for appointment of Supreme Court and High Court judges respectively, the collegium system itself is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution and operates through judicial decisions requiring the Chief Justice of India and senior judges to recommend appointments.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court is one of the 25 High Courts in India and serves as a common High Court for two states and one Union Territory, showcasing federal judicial structure where a single High Court serves multiple jurisdictions.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

The collegium system's evolution, composition, and functions are important constitutional law topics frequently asked in competitive exams like UPSC and state judiciary services. The appointment procedures, eligibility criteria, and roles of different constitutional actors in judicial appointments are significant for understanding checks and balances in the Indian judicial system. Additionally, the jurisdiction and structure of High Courts such as the Punjab and Haryana High Court are relevant for papers dealing with the Indian Polity, Judiciary, and Current Affairs.

Points to Remember

• The Supreme Court Collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most Supreme Court judges.
• High Court judges are appointed by the President under Article 217 after consultation with relevant constitutional authorities.
• Eligibility requires at least 10 years as an advocate or judicial officer.
• The Punjab and Haryana High Court functions from Chandigarh and serves Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh Union Territory.
• The collegium system is a product of judicial interpretation and is not explicitly part of the Constitution.
• Recent elevation includes 10 advocates to Punjab and Haryana High Court, and three judicial officers to Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2024.