The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to decide on the elevation of Justice Akil Kureshi as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court by August 14.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, had asked for 10 days more to be given to the Union Government for taking the decision as Parliament was still in session.

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The Supreme Court was hearing a plea challenging the delay in the elevation of the Justice.

“Whatever decision you want to take, take that and place it before the court,” the bench said, adding that it can be put either on the judicial side or on the administrative side.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had last month informed the court that the matter concerning Justice Kureshi’s elevation was still under consideration and sought two weeks time to place the Centre’s response before the court.

On May 10, the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had recommended Justice Kureshi, currently the senior-most judge in the Gujarat High Court, as the most suitable candidate to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Disregarding the recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium, the Centre notified the appointment of Ravi Shanker Jha as the acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court last month after Justice Sanjay Kumar Seth retired on June 9.

Senior Advocate FS Nariman, appearing for the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association, had said the Union government should act as “distinguished communicator” on the recommendation made by the collegium.

The advocates association said the government had not cleared the file for the appointment of Justice Kureshi as the Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice.

The association had requested the court to direct the Centre to implement the collegium’s resolution of May 10.