The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of new Chief Justice in five different High Courts.
The recommendation has been made for the High Courts of Kerala, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bombay and Madras High Court.
The following are the details of the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium-
• Justice S V Bhatti as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court
• Justice Augustine George Masih as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court
• Justice M S Ramachandra Rao as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court
• Justice Ramesh D Dhanuka as the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court
• Justice S V Gangapurwala as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court
Justice S V Bhatti
As per the Collegium resolution, the office of the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court will fall vacant consequent upon the retirement of Justice S Manikumar. Therefore, Justice S V Bhatti, senior-most judge of the Kerala High Court has been recommended as the new Chief Justice.
Justice Augustine George Masih
The Collegium resolution reads that the office of the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court fell vacant recently, consequent upon the elevation of Justice Pankaj Mithal to the Supreme Court. Thus the Collegium considered that Justice Augustine George Masih, Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, is suitable in all aspects to be appointed as the next CJ of Rajasthan High Court.
Justice MS Ramachandra Rao
The office of the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court fell vacant consequent upon the retirement of Justice Amjad A Sayed. Justice M S Ramachandra Rao is the senior-most among puisne judges originating from the High Court for the State of Telangana. The SC Collegium noted that the State of Telangana has no representation among Chief Justices of the High Courts. Thus the Collegium has considered him suitable for appointment as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court.
Justice Ramesh D Dhanuka
The Supreme Court Collegium noted that the office of the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court has been lying vacant for quite some time, consequent upon the elevation of Justice Dipankar Datta to the Supreme Court. Thus the Collegium recommended appointment Justice Ramesh D Dhanuka as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, consequent of the appointment of Justice S V Gangapurwala, Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, as Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
Justice S V Gangapurwala
The Supreme Court Collegium resolution states that the office of the Chief Justice of Madras High Court has been vacant for quite some time, since the retirement of Justice M N Bhandari. The Collegium recommended the appointment of Justice S V Gangapurwala as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court. The Collegium notes that his experience of having served as acting Chief Justice in the second largest High Court in the country (with benches at Aurangabad and Nagpur and a seat also at Goa) during the last four months would be useful for him in dispensing justice as Chief Justice in the Madras High Court.
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