Quick elevation of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra, KV Viswanathan to Supreme Court proof that Collegium active, vibrant: CJI DY Chandrachud

The speed with which the Supreme Court Collegium was able to ensure the appointment of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan as apex court judges is proof of the Collegium's vibrancy, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud said on Tuesday..The appointment of two judges were cleared by the Central government in less than 72 hours after the Collegium recommended their names, the CJI highlighted..“We must also accept the fact that the government is a stakeholder in the process and these recommendations that have comes through in less than 72 hours after the names were recommended. I think we have sent the nation a message that the Collegium is vibrant, active and committed to its task.”The CJI was speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for the two recently elevated judges..Central government clears appointment of Senior Advocate KV Viswanathan, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra as Supreme Court judges.The CJI, in his address, also touched upon the consultative and extensive nature of work that the Supreme Court Collegium does."Everyone who comes to the Supreme Court commands the respect and affection, and sense of belonging, of all the judges of the Supreme Court,” he said. .The CJI also spoke about the importance of having judges who are directly elevated from the bar to the bench. ."Members of the bar that come to the bench bring a freshness of ideas. Members who come from the district judiciary to the High Court to the Supreme Court, bring a tradition of continuity. Both are equally important for the survival of the institution. The constant challenge for people who have been judges for so long is not to get overwhelmed by being part of the system for so long. Members of the bar who come to hold high judicial office, have the drive and initiative because they have seen face to face realities of life, right up to the point of time when they were appointed,” he said..Attorney General for India R Venkataramani also spoke on he occasion, stating that both the recent appointees were quality judges. .Justice Mishra spoke about the importance of camaraderie between the Bar and the Bench.."Nothing can move in the judicial system without the active cooperation of the bar and it is the bar that produces good judgements and good judges,” he said. Justice Viswanathan thanked the SCBA for the warm reception. He said that fraternity is the most important constitutional value which is embedded in the preamble and the SCBA is an example of it.