Delhi HC Reserved Order On Plea For Disclosure Of Collegium Meet

The Delhi High Court, on July 22, Friday, reserved the order on an appeal which challenged the Central Information Commission (CIC) order that denied information which pertained to the agenda of Supreme Court Collegium meeting. The meeting against which information had been sought was held on December 12, 2018.

On March 30, 2022, a single bench of Delhi High Court dismissed the plea moved by RTI Activist Anjali Bhardwaj challenging an order dated 

On December 16, 2021, vide an order passed by the Central Information Commission in Second Appeal, the petitioner’s appeal was dismissed. RTI Activist Anjali Bhardwaj, moved the Delhi High Court against the CIC order. On March 30, 2022, a single judge bench of Delhi High Court rejected the plea which challenged the order.

On July 22, Friday, bench of Delhi High Court which comprised of Justices Satish Chander Sharma and Subramonium Prasad, kept the order reserved on the appeal and said that they will pass the appropriate order on it. Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared on behalf of the appellant. Bhushan submitted before the Division Bench that decision of the collegium where the elevation of judges to the Supreme Court took place was never disclosed in the public domain.

"The court finds no ground to doubt the disclosure made that no resolution was drawn. Atleast no cogent material was placed on the record which may convince the Court to take a contrary view”, the Bench said.

The Collegium consists of the senior most five judges of the Supreme Court and it is responsible for the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and high courts of the country. The collegium makes recommendations which are acted upon by the Centre and appointment takes effect.