Despite SC collegium’s 3 iterations, Centre sits on appointment of HC judge

NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented instance in the more than two-decade-long existence of the collegium system, the Centre appears to have blocked the appointment of Karnataka judicial officer P K Bhat as a high court judge despite the CJI-led panel iterating its recommendation a record third time in three years.

Bhat’s name was first recommended by the Supreme Court collegium on August 23, 2016. But the law ministry returned it, enclosing a May 3, 2016, complaint by a woman judicial officer levelling sexual harassment charges against Bhat. She alleged that on complaining against denial of orderly allowance, Bhat would summon her to his residence at night and often made her wait till early hours with a “dishonourable intention”.

The then CJI sought a report from the Karnataka chief justice but the latter on November 14, 2016, without holding a probe or hearing the complainant, termed the allegations “incorrect and concocted to suit her purpose”.

Bhat allegations not of sexual