Chief Justice of India TS Thakur on Monday expressed his disappointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi not mentioning the issue of pending judges’ appointments in his Independence Day speech. Thakur said the issue is paralysing the courts and if it is not addressed urgently, it will bring the judiciary to a halt.

The senior-most judge said, "I listened to the PM's speech. I had hoped he would speak on the appointment of judges. But the PM said nothing.” Thakur had reprimanded the Centre on the issue of judges’ appointment on Friday. A three-judge bench of Thakur and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud informed Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that as many as 75 names had been recommended by the Collegium since February for the appointment of judges to high courts across the country. Thakur accused the government of "sitting over" judges appointments.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, however, told Hindustan Times that the government is looking into the matter and added, “Our commitment to the judiciary is complete.”