SC refuses to entertain judicial officer’s petition seeking elevation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to accept a plea from a judicial officer from Himachal Pradesh seeking consideration of his name by the high court bench for elevation as a high court judge.

Chief judge Arvind Malhotra, sitting in a family court in Dharamshala, had filed the petition in the apex court last week after the SC bench recently recommended the appointment of three judges in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. He claimed that officers more junior than him were recommended for appointment.

Refusing to intervene, a vacation bench comprising justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi observed on Monday that mere seniority does not entitle a judicial officer to promotion.
The board verbally said, “Being a senior does not mean that you will be recommended. We cannot intervene after the university discusses it. There is also confidentiality involved.” The bench said the SC cannot judicially direct the high court bench on appointment matters.