The Supreme Court on Thursday asked its collegium to go ahead with the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary. The apex court reserved its order on a host of suggestions both by the government and the petitioners on improving the working of the collegium and making it transparent, reported IANS. Over 3,500 suggestions have been submitted so far. Vacancies have risen by 40% due to the halt of Collegium's operations, which has also led to a burgeoning number of cases, the government told SC.

The constitution bench, while reserving the order, said that the process of appointment of judges by the collegium “will continue and shall not be put on hold.”

The process of appointments had been put on hold since the government notification setting up the National Judicial Appointments Commission was challenged. The government, which had introduced the NJAC Act had argued that the process of appointment lays more emphasis on seniority and not merit. The apex court had struck down the Act previously, calling it “unconstitutional”, which the a ruling which the administration had called “flawed”.