Reconsideration of Justice Joseph elevation deferred

New Delhi, May 2: The Supreme Court collegium on Wednesday deferred its decision on Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K.M. Joseph, whose name for elevation to the top court was returned by the government last week for reconsideration even as the Centre maintained that the rejection had nothing to do with his judgment in quashing President's Rule in Uttarakhand last year.

A decision to reconsider the recommendation was deferred after the collegium comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and four other senior most judges - Justices Jasti Chelameshwar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph - met for about 45 minutes.

The Central government on April 26 sent back Justice Joseph's recommendation for reconsideration.

"The proposal for reconsideration of the case of K.M. Joseph has the approval of President and Prime Minister," said the letter that was sent to the Chief Justice by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.