Congress attacks Government on Supreme Court Judge appointments; asks whether it's Justice Joseph's 'state, religion, or judgment in Uttarakhand case'

The Congress has launched a renewed 'executive interference in judiciary' assault at the Modi government by weaving in the appointment of senior advocate Indu Malhotra to the Supreme Court and asking why Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K M Joseph, who was also recommended by the 5-judge Supreme Court collegium, was not similarly elevated. 

A number of senior Congress leaders have raised the matter, alleging that the reason Justice Joseph hasn't been elevated has something to do with him striking down the Centre's 2016 order to impose President's rule in Uttarakhand.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi has called for the collegium to issue a notice of contempt:

P Chidambaram, meanwhile, has also added a communal angle to the matter: 

Speaking to reporters, Congress Rajya Sabha MP KTS Tulsi said that he welcomes Indu Malhotra being cleared but "one can't judge judges by whether they decided in your favour or against. They are decided on their merits. This government is revengeful towards people who have decided against them".

Meanwhile, advocate Vikas Singh, President of the Supreme Court Bar association has said that "by making one appointment and not making another, the government has interfered in functioning of the judiciary. This is a very serious matter and should be taken up with the government very strongly."

The new controversy comes mere days after the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, VP Venkaiah Naidu, had rejected the Opposition parties' motion to impeach the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on grounds of 'misbehaviour'. After the VP's rejection, the Congress had declared its intention to challenge the order in the Supreme Court and had issued a post declaring CJI Dipak Misra a 'bench-fixer'.

Republic TV has learnt that the Supreme Court collegium is likely to meet on Thursday.