Is Nepotism On Rise In High Court Judges' Appointments ?

New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI) The government has denied knowledge of ''nepotism'' in appointment of high court judges, saying it does not maintain such data.

''Government is not maintaining any statistics about the status of progenies of judges in appointment of Judges of the High Court,'' Law and Justice Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha this week.

The Law Minister was answering Bharatiya Janata Party member from Madhya Pradesh Pyarelal Khandelwal as to whether ''nepotism has increased in such appointments for want of transparency.'' Bhardwaj explained that since October 1993 proposals for such appointments are initiated by High Court Chief Justices and forwarded-- along with State Constitutional authorities' view and other inputs-- to the Chief Justice of India.

On receipt of the CJI's advice, he went on, recommendations are processed for submission to Prime Minister or President for approval.

After approval, the notification for the appointment of the person as a high court Judge is issued, Bhardwaj summed up.

Bhardwaj was also asked to furnish the status of the sons and progenies of judges in such appointment during the last three years.

He said that ''since recommendations for appointment of the judges are to be initiated by the Chief Justice of the High court concerned, government is not maintaining any statistics about the status of progenies of judges in appointment of judges of the high court.'' UNI