New Delhi

The Central government on Friday assured the Supreme Court that it will adhere to the timeline and expedite the judges' appointment process, while the top court pointed out that sending back reiterated names by the Centre was a matter of concern.

At the outset, Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre, submitted before a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul that some recent recommendations sent by the high courts were being processed, probably 44 recommendations (name of judges) sent by the collegium will be cleared either by Saturday or this weekend.

The AG emphasized that all efforts were being made to conform to timelines fixed by the apex court for clearing the names recommended by the collegium for the appointment of judges to the high courts and the apex court.

He added that 104 recommendations have been made by the high courts, which are with the Centre and out of which 44 would be cleared.

During the hearing, the top court also expressed displeasure at the government for sitting over the cases of transfers, asking if third parties were influencing it.

The top court said ten recommendations for transfer have been made and these have been made in the end of September and end of November. "In that the government has a very limited role. Keeping them pending sends a very wrong signal. It is unacceptable to the collegium," said the bench.

The bench also pointed out that 22 names (for the appointment as judges) were returned by the Centre recently, and some of those names were earlier reiterated by the collegium.

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The top court also pointed out that delay by the Central government in clearing collegium recommendations leads to candidates withdrawing their consent for judgeship or not giving consent. It emphasized that this delay has led to meritorious lawyers not giving their consent to become judges.